This article is from page 83 of the 2009-05-12 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 83 JPG
FIANNA Fail added its second can- didate to the Ireland North West ticket at the 11th hour amid much disquiet from the Pascal Mooney camp.
Just hours before the close of nomi- nations, Minister for State and Don- egal South West TD Pat “the Cope” Gallagher (FF) declared as a candi- date after weeks of speculation.
He joined former senator Mooney on the ticket, vacated by sitting MEP Sean O Neachtain.
The Galway-based MEP and Mooney were selected to represent the party, but O Neachtain later withdrew his name citing ill health.
Fianna Fail failed to find a candi- date in the southern half of the vast constituency of Ireland North West,
and yesterday announced former MEP and junior Minister Gallagher as the second candidate.
The news was not welcomed in the Mooney camp, as supporters be- lieved that both men would be look- ing for votes in the north.
Announcing his candidature Min- ister Gallagher said, “We must maximise funding opportunities from Europe which is supporting Irish economic recovery through a number of different positive initia- UAVore
“Now more than ever, Ireland needs to elect people who will be able to work in Europe on a range of different policy issues that will sup- port Irish economic recovery.
“The European Union is to the forefront in helping Ireland to pull out of economic recession.”
The junior minister served in the European Parliament before be- tween 1994 and 2002.
He said that both himself and Mr Mooney must work together to win back the Fianna Fail seat in Ireland oye fenie
The former senator, 1s an award- winning broadcaster and journalist and a native of Drumshanbo, Coun- ty Leitrim.
Mr Mooney said he will fight to protect the farming and fishing in- dustry and push for better job crea- tion and tourism through EU sup- port. He said he will also fight to protect Ireland’s cultural, linguistic and national diversities within the European Union and for increased financial support for Irish small and medium-size enterprises.
The former senator has served on
a number of European bodies in- cluding the Council of Europe and the WEU Parliamentary Assembly. He presented several reports to the Council of Europe including ‘Wom- en’s Participation in Elections’ and ‘Europe’s response to Humanitarian Disasters’ in association with the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross.
He is co-author of “Women in Parliament’, now the benchmark publication acknowledging the role played by Irish women in the politi- cal process since the foundation of Some EI Koe
Mr Mooney was the first Irishman to be elected chairman of the Coun- cil of Europe Human Rights Com- mittee and has also served on the Joint House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Forum on Europe.