Calleary will be a ‘massive loss’ for Mayo

INFLUENCE LOST Many believe that Calleary's position at the Cabinet table would have meant a great deal to the west in general, and Mayo in particular.

Anton McNulty

THE resignation of Dara Calleary as Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine will be a massive loss to north Mayo according to a local Fianna FΡil councillor, who believes he did the right thing in resigning.
The appointment of Dara Calleary as Minister on July 15 was greeted with joy in Ballina and north Mayo after he was initially snubbed for a ministerial post when the Government was formed in June.
His position as a senior minister lasted for less than six weeks, however. He resigned this morning (Friday) after it emerged that he was one of over 80 people who attended a function organised by the Oireachtas Golf Society in Clifden on Wednesday, in breach of Government Covid-19 guidelines.
Crossmolina-based councillor Michael Loftus told The Mayo News he did not expect Calleary would have to resign when the story initially broke, and that his resignation will be a massive loss to the region.
“It is extremely disappointing for him and his family and the Fianna FΡil party in north Mayo and in Mayo. He has done the right thing as he feels himself, and he accepts he made a mistake.
“This is a massive massive loss for Mayo. To have someone at the Cabinet table for us is a great thing, especially for north Mayo. I have to be parocial about it and it is funny that I was to meet Dara today to go over items which would be of benefit for north Mayo.
“MicheΡl Martin has to be seen as leading and being strong and Dara had to go really, but there will be people on all sides sad to see him go because of his ability. I think he would have done a great job in the Department of Agriculture,” he said.

‘Arrogance’
Cllr Loftus, who himself contracted Covid-19 in March, said that Dara would not deliberately do something to hurt anyone involved in the fight against the coronavirus, and he criticised those who organised the function.
“It was wrong to have the dinner in the first place, and I would bame the people who organised it … They should have known better,” adding: “When it comes to Covid, it doesn’t care what door it knocks on. They should have cancelled it, but I’d say it was the arrogance of some of the people organising it who felt it should go ahead. Dara was wrong to go, he has admitted it and has taken the consequences.”
Matt Farrell, chairperson of the Ballina Fianna FΡil Comhairle Ceanntair, said he was very disappointed for Calleary, but he believes he will return to a senior position sometime in the future.
“Personally, I wouldn’t have thought it wouldn’t have been a resigning matter, but politically I will have to accept the decision he has taken,” Farrell told Mid West Radio.
“There are Fianna FΡil people who would have felt it was not a resigning matter … and I have no doubt that would be the general mentality of most of the people in Fianna FΡil and outside Fianna FΡil as well.
“Dara is a very honourable man and he made his decision because he is that type of a person. He is very strong minded on principles, and I have no doubt Dara Calleary will be back. He has done the honourable thing, and that will stand to him in the future.”

More punished
Meanwhile Mayo Fine Gael Senator Paddy Burke, who was also in attendence at the function, also apologised for attending, but his apology was not enough to prevent his party whip from being removed by Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar.
Senator Burke, who was first elected to the Seanad in 1993, was one of three Fine Gael senators who was present at the function in the Station House Hotel in Clifden.
In a tweet sent by Leo Varadkar, announced that he has removed the party whip from all three.
“Funerals, christenings, weddings, family holidays and other really important family occasions have been foregone to protect each other and the most vulnerable. As representatives we should lead by example.
“In recognition of the seriousness of this matter, I have removed the party whip from Senators Jerry Buttimer, Paddy Burke and John Cummins. Senator Jerry Buttimer has also resigned his position as Leas-Cathaoirleach of the Seanad.
“All have apologised profusely and accept they made a serious error of judgement,” Mr Varadkar tweeted.