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FIANNA FÁIL HAS declined to comment on the future of its former deputy leader Éamon Ó Cuív who has said that he is to make a decision about his future in the party later today.
The former government minister has said that he has been asked to refrain from commenting on the EU Fiscal Compact referendum in the media after it emerged that he intends to vote No, against the intentions of his party.
Ó Cuív resigned as the party’s communications spokesperson and deputy leader in February after it emerged that he would not support the party’s position on the referendum.
He has said, according to the Irish Times this morning, that a letter from party whip Seán Ó Fearghail, whom he met last week, has presented him with a “monumental decision” over whether or not to remain in the party that was founded by his grandfather Éamon de Valera.
The letter reportedly states that it is not feasible for a party member to campaign as they wish against the parliamentary party’s adopted position. Fianna Fáil has indicated that the letter does not warn of expulsion from the party.
Neither Ó Cuív nor Ó Fearghail could be reached for comment this morning.
Nonetheless it is likely that Ó Cuív will issue a statement later today in which he will make his intentions clear. Fianna Fáil declined to comment when contacted this morning.
A grandson of De Valera, the former environment minister was first elected to the Dáil for Galway West in 1992.
It is not the first time he has voted no in a European referendum having done so in the Nice treaty referendum in 2001 which was defeated despite support from the government parties.
The TD has said that rejection of the current Fiscal Compact would allow for a renegotiation of the treaty and the treaties governing the establishment of the European Stability Mechanism in order to make them more favourable to smaller countries such as Ireland.
He told Today FM in February: “What I am saying is, and my policy on this issue was that before we vote at all, that the government should be told quite clearly to go back to Europe and not come back with any referendum until we sort out the regulation of the financial sector from Brussels.”
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Regardless of your allegiances, the fact that a fake tweet was read out on a presidential debate is shocking.
Seanie should just go away and stop making an even bigger fool of himself, if that was possible.
Agreed. RTE need to be more careful about verifying and broadcasting communications or they shouldn’t be hosting such events.
It’s not the first time RTE have allowed misinformation to be broadcast.
Not that I’d feel sorry for him though!
Indeed, two wrongs do not make a right!
Oh no… Poor Seán Gallagher. My heart bleeds for him. Boo hoo…….
It’s not acceptable that our public funded broadcaster manufactures the news is it? – no matter who its aimed at. Next thing they will be telling us things like the economy is on track and all this austerity is working.
Is he honestly complaining about the fact that he was found out as the crooked Fianna Fail toss pot that he is?? Anyone connected to that bent organisation should think twice before raising their heads above the parapet again!! Oh that money was just resting in my bank account…..
Mine too !
and as my mother would say “and so do my piles”
Wouldnt you think the SG team would shut up and go away. He would have been able to deal with the unexpected if he hadnt been so economical with the truth earlier…lesson there Sean if you dont tell the truth to begin with you have to be able to remember what you said ..oh and dont include the word ENVELOPE
It would be great if people could stick to the issue.
It’s the credibiity of RTÉ that’s on the line here. In all fairness to them (and I don’t think RTÉ are a brilliant outfit) they at least mentioned it, believing it to be true. Would it better serve the public interest if the story had been initially suppressed? As long as the source is clearly attributed to twitter people can decide if it is credible or not. The public aren’t stupid and know that a lot of stuff on social networking is not true.
EVERYBODY above seems to ‘forget’ or to be unaware that there WAS NO CHEQUE or money or ‘ENVELOPE’ handed to or collected by Seán Gallagher.
RTE are owned by the state (rember)
I think seany envelope Gallagher is and will do anything to claw back any decent respect,he must think the Irish public are stupid,it’s blatantly obvious thAt this big babboon is guilty,as are all the other affiliates of fianna fail,the way I and the majority of Irish public see it ,is if any so called politician wants to be taken serious,they need to publicly disown and disband fianna fail,there no way any decent educated Irish citizen would even think of voting for fianna fail,anyone associated with fianna fail,if they have any sense of respect or morals,should at least join a credible honest hardworking political or independent party,the heroes of 1916 would be sickened to see what they gave there lives up for,the likes of the low life sneakyhyprocrites,to name a few Bertie ahearn john donohue ray Burke haughey Michael Lowry and many more scum low lifes,for putting my children in a position where they dill be paying off there debts,or worse having to emigrate for what them leeches have done to Ireland and the 95percent ordinary tax paying genuine Irish citizens,I say we should have a Coup and elect our own decent goverment..
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