A final farewell for Flynnasty and Fianna Fáil?

TAKING POLITICS?FF Vice President Lisa Chambers and former USI President Gary Redmond taking part in a discussion on youth participation in politics at the Fianna FΡil Ard Fheis.?Pic: Conor McCabe Photography

A final farewell for Flynnasty and Fianna FΡil? 


Áine Ryan
aineryan@mayonews.ie

FIANNA FΡil and the Flynnasty may have parted ways some years ago but the nail was put in the coffin of the colourful Castlebar family’s historic connection with the Soldiers of Destiny  at the party’s 74th Árd Fheis, held in Dublin over the weekend. There delegates voted unanimously to ban TDs and ministers who retired before the 2011 bloodbath from putting their names on the party ticket again.
Of course, this ban cannot preclude former Deputy Beverley Flynn – or Brian Cowen or Noel Dempsey – from putting their names on future ballot papers as Independents, or, although most unlikely, as members of another political party. Whether Beverley Flynn has even considered such a possibility is entirely a matter of speculation as she categorically declined to make any comment when contacted by The Mayo News yesterday.
Moreover, her former constituency colleague, Deputy Dara Calleary said: “The decision [to ban TDs who retired before the 2011 election] must now go before the party’s Rules and Procedures Committee. In the last year we introduced a system that allows one-member one-vote, which therefore means we must examine the motion in relation to the rights of our members.”
The Mayo News understands that Beverley Flynn is still a member of Fianna FΡil and therefore has voting rights at conventions.
The Ard Fheis reappointed Deputy Calleary as Honorary Secretary, while 26-year-old Castlebar barrister, Lisa Chambers was re-elected as a party Vice-President and Kiltimagh accountant, Henry Cleary was elected to the Committee of 20, which represents grassroots members on the Ard Comhairle.
However, former Mayo News journalist, Joan Geraghty of Westport was pipped to the post for the last seat on the committee of 20 by Mary Hoade of Galway. Ms Geraghty and Swinford solicitor Michael Smith were appointed as Local Area Representatives and, along with Lisa Chambers, are expected to seek nominations for next year’s local elections.  Leonard Ryan will also represent Mayo Comhairle DΡil Ceantair on the Ard Comhairle.     
Attended by more than 4,000 Fianna FΡil members from around the country, the two-day conference in the RDS, Ballsbridge, addressed a theme of ‘A Fairer Way to Recovery’.  Its main focus was on the mortgage crisis, protecting community services, supporting rural Ireland and ending socially regressive cuts that are damaging recovery.
Fianna FΡil Leader MicheΡl Martin said: “This Ard Fheis was an important step in our journey to renew Fianna FΡil and change the way politics works in this country. I put forward motions, which were backed by members, to include the membership in the election of any future party leaders and to give the membership a say in any future programmes for government, involving Fianna FΡil.”

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