Cork councillor blasts Fianna Fáil’s selection process following Jim Gavin withdrawal
CorkmanA County Cork Fianna Fáil councillor has criticised the party’s presidential selection process in the wake of Jim Gavin’s withdrawal from the race, saying party members were given no say in his selection.
“I think that the processes that were put in place for selection were regrettable, to say the least. Councillors had no choice or no say, members had no say. There are party structures, the local cumann, and we were not invited to select anybody or to suggest anybody,” Cllr Gillian Coughlan said on C103's Cork Today show.
“I would have preferred if the robust structures that we have within the party were utilised more. We are living in a democracy. People who are members of organisations should have a say in the running of the organisation. And we did feel and it had been flagged that we did not have a say as councillors, as ordinary members.”
The councillor for the Bandon-Kinsale Municipal District said she would have supported Ireland South MEP Billy Kelleher as the party’s candidate.
“I think he would have been an excellent candidate for Fianna Fáil. So I think the party needs to look at the selection process here. Jim Gavin said he made a mistake. I don't think he was the only one who made a mistake here. I think mistakes have been made at party level and they need to be addressed and confronted,” the former mayor of county Cork said.
She also questioned Mr Gavin’s lack of political experience. “Some people seem to think that anybody can be a public representative. And the presidency is even beyond that again. And in any career you need to earn your stripes, just as Jim Gavin did in his aviation career and in his GAA career. Public representation is a career in itself.”
Mr Gavin’s decision to withdraw his candidacy followed revelations that he owed more than €3,000 to a former tenant has sparked criticism of the Fianna Fáil party leadership for putting the former Dublin GAA manager forward for the role.