Fine Gael picks its teams for general election

As political parties continue to gear up for the general election next spring, Fine Gael has selected its candidates in both Meath East and Meath West. The Meath East convention, which took place last Sunday in the Marriott Hotel, Ashbourne, selected sitting TD Shane McEntee and Cllr Regina Doherty to contest the election. The Meath West convention, which took place on Monday night in Athboy, selected sitting TD Damien English and Cllr Catherine Yore in a tightly-fought contest, which saw Trim's Cllr Ray Butler narrowly miss out on his party's nomination. Meanwhile, the Labour Party's Meath West convention was to take place last night (Tuesday) and the Fianna Fail conventions for both constituencies have been scheduled for the second week in January, with nominations due to close this Friday. Labour have already selected Senator Dominic Hannigan to run in Meath East, while Sinn Fein have selected Cllr Peadar Tóibin to run in Meath West and former Cllr Michael Gallagher to run in Meath East. Among the guests at the Fine Gael Meath East convention on Sunday were former Taoiseach, John Bruton, and Mairead McGuinness, MEP. Deputy Richard Bruton chaired the proceedings. Deputy McEntee said he was delighted to be selected to represent the party again in Meath East. “I am proud to serve as a representative of Meath East and, when re-elected, I intend to continue the work that has been entrusted with me over the past five years. I am looking forward to the forthcoming election campaign. I believe that, with Fine Gael in Government, we can begin to clear up the mess that this country has been left in by Fianna Fail.†Deputy McEntee won the Meath by-election in 2005, and was re-elected in the 2007 general election. He congratulated Cllr Regina Doherty on her selection to the Fine Gael ticket and said he is looking forward to working with her once again. “I feel we have a strong team and it is our intention to take two seats for Fine Gael in Meath East,†he declared. Cllr Doherty was elected to Meath County Council in June of last year with 1,625 first preference votes. Originally from Dubln, she has lived in Meath for 13 years. Previously a sales director for Horizon Technology Group, she now operates her own IT company from Ashbourne. She is vice-chairperson of the establishing committee of Gaelscoil Rath Tó and is also serving on the special education group of the National Parents' Council - Primary (NPC). Meanwhile, Deputy English said he was delighted to have received the endorsement of the Fine Gael membership in Meath West to contest the election in Meath West. “The convention in Athboy was extremely competitive, with myself and Catherine Yore picked from the eight candidates seeking nomination. “Having eight able and enthusiastic people looking to run for Fine Gael is a brilliant launching pad for us in the run-up to the next general election. I look forward to fighting for two Fine Gael seats in the coming weeks,†he said. “The country demands a general election and a change of government. People have become disillusioned with the way in which Fianna Fáil have run the country into the ground. The people will have their say at the ballot paper early next year.†Deputy English was first elected to the Dáil in 2002, having previously been the youngest member of Meath County Council after he was elected in 1999 at 21 years of age. He was elected secretary to the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party in 2002. Cllr Catherine Yore, from Carnaross, was elected to Meath County Council in June 2009. A teacher by profession, she is a talented musician and singer, who gained a high profile in reaching the final stages of 'You're a Star' and 'Glas Vegas'.