FORMER FINE GAEL TD, and current senator, Frank Feighan has confirmed that he is to run on the party ticket once more at the next general election.
54-year-old Feighan was formerly a TD for Roscommon/South Leitrim between 2007 and 2016.
He announced that he wouldn’t be running in the last election a full seven months before the country went to the polls in February 2016.
Today, Feighan said he has been “truly overwhelmed by the ongoing support and goodwill shown” to him.
“It’s clear that more and more people want me to continue to build on my long track record of delivery as an Oireachtas member since 2002 and as a TD for nine years over that period,” he said.
I also feel fully vindicated over the stance I took in relation to Roscommon Hospital. Consultants have gone on the public record that the hospital is now much safer as a result of the changes which have taken place there.
Feighan had come under fire from constituents when he voted in favour of replacing Roscommon A&E with an urgent care unit and an out-of-hours GP service. His colleague Denis Naughten lost the party whip for voting against Fine Gael on the issue.
When asked in July 2015 if his decision not to run in the last election was in any way influenced by party headquarters, Feighan said: “Not at all.”
The decision had been a “personal” one, he said.
“My intention to seek a party nomination to contest the next election has not been taken lightly,” Feighan added today.
I want to continue the work of ensuring this region gets its fair share and that is why I will be seeking a nomination when the time comes.
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