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Sinn Féin's Dublin chair steps down after row over candidate selection

Eamonn Nolan temporarily stepped down from his role following a row over the addition of a second candidate in Dublin North-West. The matter is now subject of an internal investigation.

Screen Shot 2015-04-29 at 15.03.58 Sinn Féin councillors Noeleen Reilly and Cathleen Carney Boud were at the centre of a row which has seen the party's Dublin chair temporarily step down. Sinn Féin Sinn Féin

A ROW OVER the selection of a Sinn Féin candidate to run in the general election has resulted in the party’s Dublin chairperson temporarily stepping down while an internal inquiry is carried out, TheJournal.ie has learned.

Eamonn Nolan, the chair of Sinn Féin’s Dublin Cúige (province), stepped down from his role in recent weeks. It follows controversy over the selection process for a candidate to run alongside sitting TD Dessie Ellis in Dublin North-West at the next election.

Sinn Féin councillor Noeleen Reilly complained to party headquarters after failing to win the nomination of her own cumann, of which Nolan is a member.

The party subsequently launched an internal inquiry and Nolan stepped down in order to prevent any perceived conflict of interest. Attempts to reach Nolan were unsuccessful.

A well-placed Sinn Féin source explained that Nolan stepped down following the row over who would be the party’s second candidate in Dublin North-West. A party spokesperson subsequently confirmed this was the case.

It’s understood party members in the constituency favour the selection of Finglas-based councillor Cathleen Carney Boud as the second Sinn Féin candidate.

They believe her presence in the Santry and Whitehall areas would give the party a better chance of taking a second seat in the three-seater. Ellis is seen as stronger in areas like Ballymun.

‘Wise thing to do’

However, Ballymun-based councillor Reilly has also been vying for the selection. Having failed to win the nomination of her own Ballymun cumann, she subsequently complained to headquarters and an internal inquiry was launched.

“There was a complaint made and an inquiry initiated. It is winding up in the next week or so,” a Sinn Féin spokesperson confirmed.

Neither Carney Boud nor Reilly had responded to TheJournal.ie at the time of publication. The Sinn Féin source who initially confirmed the story spoke on condition of anonymity.

They said that Nolan felt he should step down temporarily in order to avoid any perceived conflict of interest between his role as chair of Dublin Sinn Féin and a member of the Ballymun cumann. They added:

He thought it was the wise thing to do, to stand aside. But he should be coming back. It’s more or less sorted now and everyone is satisfied.

While the inquiry is still ongoing and expected to report shortly, it is now expected that Sinn Féin will select Ellis and Carney Boud as its general election candidates in Dublin North West.

The selection convention takes place on 15 May.

Sinn Féin policy means that in every constituency where the party is running two candidates, one of them must female, with the exception of Donegal where incumbent TDs Padraig MacLochlainn and Pearse Doherty are running.

Nolan was elected as the party’s Dublin chairperson in January and holds the post until next year.

Sinn Féin representatives in Dublin would not be drawn on the issue when contacted today. Strategist and Clondalkin-based councillor Eoin Ó Broin said: “I couldn’t comment on that, it’s an internal party matter.”

Another party source in the capital confirmed that they expected Nolan to return as chairperson within the next week.

- additional reporting from Nicky Ryan

Read: The Sinn Féin councillor who resigned and then backtracked has now resigned again

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    Mute James Hughes
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    Jun 23rd 2014, 5:15 PM

    Another clear indication that the economy is improving and possibly at a faster pace than some believe
    Hard to believe that Sin Fein still believe the economy is doomed and there are zero signs of a recovery.
    It’s absolutely key now that developers get the credit needed to add to the supply side and therefore avoid over heating of the market. Govt have a job here in my view

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    Mute Business Cat
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    Jun 23rd 2014, 5:22 PM

    Economic recovery is bad news for SF.
    They will run the country down at every opportunity.

    Can you imagine their horror in 2016, budget back in surplus & economy growing again.

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    Mute Richie Aprile
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    Jun 23rd 2014, 5:48 PM

    It’s another property bubble.

    It’s absolutely crazy in the residential market. I signed a 12 month lease on a 1 bed flat in the city centre last week but it took me a few weeks to find it.

    They (landlords and letting agents) are actually having viewing nights, where 10 or more people view the kips at once.

    My rabbit hutch was €300 cheaper 12 months ago.. its a sign paddy greed is setting in yet again and we know what happened last time.

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    Mute Business Cat
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    Jun 23rd 2014, 5:12 PM

    a rebound is inevitable, but there are still a lot of vacant buildings about.

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    Mute Business Cat
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    Jun 23rd 2014, 10:56 PM

    So, the “to let” signs are fake then?

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    Mute J R Wolf
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    Jun 23rd 2014, 5:32 PM

    Dublin is too overcrowded and concentrated, there should be greater incentives for companies set up base outside of Dublin

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    Mute Jeremy Usborne
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    Jun 23rd 2014, 5:36 PM

    Dublin is not in the slightest bit overcrowded.

    There are thousands of acres of derelict brown & green field sites within the M50.

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    Mute Declan Beach
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    Jun 23rd 2014, 7:57 PM

    Amazing how our economy is doing so well according to the government, estate agents and landlords yet the ECB warned our politicians our economy is not doing well at all.
    We have one of the biggest debts of any country in the world. sinn feinn are not being negative about the economy there being realistic. We cant afford another little building bubble. It would break ireland totally. And the sooner most people in this country realise that the better.

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    Mute Luca E Stefi
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    Jun 23rd 2014, 11:19 PM

    i wonder where will families go when renting a 2 beds will cost 1600 per month ( give it another 6 months)

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