Interesting developments in the south. East Galway TD Colm Keaveney, the former chair of the Labour Party, has applied to join Fianna Fail (whose parliamentary are currently invovled in rapidly prepared meeting to discuss his application).
Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn has expressed disappointment at news. Mr Quinn said the move was a personal decision for the Galway East TD, but he said he was sad that Mr Keaveney had left the Labour Party, and sad that he had now decided to take this route.
However, the Minister added that it was “a free country”, and described the move as a sign of Mr Keaveney’s desperation. Mr Quinn said there had been “a way back” for the Galway East TD, but said he chose not to take it.
It’s fair to say that Mr Keaveney would have had serious problems holding his seat as a Labour candidate in Galway East, where he squeezed on transfers ahead of a third Fine Gael candidate to become the first Labour party TD there since the constituency was first set up in 1937.
And much as Labour may be glad to be rid of the most stubborn and uncooperative chair since the party began, it may just take a shine off what had been a good party conference for them. We’ll let you have the verdict when it becomes available. The new FF TD will be introduced to the press by Micheal Martin at 1.30pm.
Mick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty
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