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A FIANNA FÁIL councillor who failed to win the party’s nomination to run in the general election last night has heavily criticised Micheál Martin.
David McGuinness told RTÉ’s Drivetime that “fundamentally the issue of Micheál leading the party is on the lips of every single member in Dublin West”.
He said he did not know where the party is going under the former minister.
McGuinness, who twice failed to win by-elections in the constituency, was beaten by fellow Fingal county councillor Jack Chambers in a controversial selection convention in Dublin West last night.
Recalling a conversation he had with Martin on the phone last night, McGuinness did not hold back, saying:
“I told him out straight, I don’t know where Fianna Fáil is going, I don’t know who they are trying to represent. I told him there and then – I said there is going to be a huge cross-section of society across Dublin West who would have serious reservations about voting for the party on this basis.”
McGuinness failed to hold Brian Lenihan’s old Dáil seat for Fianna Fáil in a by-election when the former finance minister died in 2011. He also failed to win a by-election held last year following the resignation of independent TD Patrick Nulty over a Facebook messages scandal.
TheJournal Politics / TwitterDavid McGuinness: "I’m questioning where I am now in life because of this.” #drivetime
— TheJournal Politics (@TJ_Politics) February 26, 2015
Having failed to secure his party’s nomination to run for the Dáil for a third time McGuinness said that the party does not “seem to have a strategy”.
“We don’t have a vision for the party. We don’t know who it is trying to attract in the electorate, and I don’t know how we are going to win back seats, particularly in Dublin, with this type of politics,” he said.
McGuinness said that he was not particularly surprised that he was not selected.
He claimed he was at “the brunt end of a class divide” in Dublin West where some members in the Castleknock part of the constituency did not want to vote for him.
Of last night’s meeting of around 400 Fianna Fáil members in the area, McGuinness said: “One of the things the membership in that room had actually in common last night was that they were against me. But they are certainly against him [Martin].”
McGuinness is the second by-election candidate in this Dáil to fail to get elected and subsequently criticise Martin.
Last December, failed Roscommon-South Leitrim by-election candidate Ivan Connaughton called on Martin to go.
TheJournal Politics / TwitterNiall Collins: "I understand that David McGuinness is very disappointed.”
— TheJournal Politics (@TJ_Politics) February 26, 2015
Speaking on the same programme this evening, Fianna Fáil’s justice spokesperson Niall Collins said that it was “not the case” that Micheál Martin’s leadership was on members’ lips.
He said that McGuinness had been beaten by Chambers “in a fairly open, democratic process”.
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So the gang of 4 have decided which Irish citizens will be disadvantaged for 2014.
The Irish have let them do what they want
What would you suggest? A giveaway budget?
Kerry. Everyone knows which citizens will be taking the pain yet again! They’re just trying to figure out the best way to force more and more of us out. It’s only a matter of time before they offer to pay us to disappear.
Kerry, only 2014?!
2015/16/17….50 Ect ect
Oreily, a giveaway budget, only in the run up to elections so they can ‘buy’ the votes.
Rodrigo, let’s not make any cuts and just borrow more…
O’Reilly lets start at the top and work down instead of the other way round for a change
How about they cut there own wages pensions exspenes like milage to drive to work dry cleaning hotels and lunch money and a hell of a lot more. I have to drive 40 miles each way to work six days a week all I get is a massive petrol bill
Ryan, if our finances are such that allow it at that time , then why not? But you’ll be rejecting any benefits in that giveaway budget then? You’ll hand it back to revenue saying you don’t want it?
@OReilly
in other words Ryan is correct….
Oreily by benefits I take it you mean the increase in USC, pension levy, property tax, broadcasting tax, and all other tax increases FG have implemented to pay unsecured private banking debt?
O’Reilly 20% of our revenue in 2014 will be going to pay interest on our “bailout” maybe we could suggest to our partners we will only be using 10% to pay off the cost of the banks and use the rest to generate work in Ireland and ensure our ill or needy in our society are not further disadvantaged?
I feel your pain citizens,i feel your pain!
Spot on Sean… True leaders lead from the front…
Thanks Tony
Its called Structural Reform problem is there is not a hope it will happen….they are too many pigs with their noses in the trough
sorry
*there
It will still be a tough budget, Mr Noonon, our finance minister, solemnly declares to the people. God damn, it must be so easy to tighten other people’s belts – especially when you don’t have to tighten your own!
I hope they will be doing a serious review of their own expenses as a cost saving measure.
Don’t suggest that, they’ll just increase them.
I think they will deserve a little break after all this work. Sack the lot of them !!!!
The main topic of debate will be whether to give us a kick in the nuts or a punch in the stomach.
C’mon pay rise!
Looks like they are going to go for the “benefits” for the disabled. The free electricity units and phone line rental are pretty crucial to the survival of anyone trying to live on disability. I had to attempt it years ago after an accident and it was brutal. If they do take these away it is going to drop a lot of peoples lives into misery and further debt. It means that disabled people will have to find €50 a month or more to fund the bankers and that can only do one thing..increase suicide rates. Many disabled people have to deal with physical pain and to inflict more financial pain on them is not the mark of a civilised society. A wipeout of TD’s expenses would be much more humane.
Booooooooo!
I will save the lads some time. Here is what you should do lads:
Increase taxes on ordinary citizens
Save money by reducing services to vulnerable people
Look after banks/wealthy/yourselves/your mates
Sorted!
Budget adjustment of €2.5bn? Same cost as mental health difficulties to the economy annually, which we pointed out two years ago! http://t.co/xbNNtS9G3J Mental Health Reform has made a number of cost-effective and proven effective recommendations to all relevant Govt departments – http://t.co/lJnSXi0wv6 …
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