Speculation about Carroll resumes
Fine Gael General Secretary Tom Curran held discussions with the party’s Strategy Committee in Roscommon recently amidst ongoing efforts to address the party’s candidate selection dilemma here.
Roscommon-Galway is the only constituency in the country for which Fine Gael has yet to hold a selection convention. Senator Maura Hopkins, the party’s candidate in Roscommon in the last two national elections, has still not committed to running next time around. That’s leading to speculation that Fine Gael may turn to Brian Carroll, Roscommon GAA County Board Secretary, in the event of Senator Hopkins opting not to run.
Meanwhile, Fine Gael Senator Frank Feighan says he will seek a party nomination to contest the next General Election in the Roscommon-Galway constituency. Senator Hopkins says she is “strongly considering” seeking a nomination. The Fine Gael convention is scheduled to be held on Friday, January 25th.
Senator Feighan had previously decided not to run in Roscommon/Galway and had instead turned his attention to the new Sligo/Leitrim constituency. Now he’s done a u-turn.
Mindful of his association with the Roscommon Hospital A&E controversy, Senator Feighan said: “In my 20-year political career to date, I have shown leadership on a range of issues such as Roscommon Hospital, the turfcutting issue, water quality and attracting investment into this region”.
He said that he has “never shirked” his responsibility in tackling “the most difficult of issues” and has a proven track record in delivering for the region.
He added: “I want to use my extensive political experience as a Government politician to continue to deliver for people living in the Roscommon/Galway constituency”.
Senator Feighan said that he has already been successful in two General Elections and “looks forward to working towards securing a seat for Fine Gael in the next General Election”.
It had been widely assumed over recent years that Senator Maura Hopkins would be a Fine Gael candidate at the next General Election, but the Roscommon People exclusively revealed earlier this year that the Ballaghaderreen woman has been having second thoughts.
Now Senator Hopkins says: “I am strongly considering putting my name forward as a candidate for selection at convention for the next General Election.
“Since I was first elected to Roscommon County Council in 2014 and subsequently to the Seanad in 2016, I have been working extremely hard to represent the people on many issues in this region. I believe that I have been providing committed and competent representation for people across Roscommon and Galway”.
