Mortgage campaigner David Hall has confirmed his intention to run as an independent candidate in the Dublin West byelection while environmentalist Duncan Stewart has ruled himself out of the European elections.
Mr Hall will contest the seat vacated by former independent TD Patrick Nulty in a byelection expected to take place on May 23rd, the same date as the European and local elections.
He is best known as the founder of the Irish Mortgage Holders’ Organisation, an advocacy group for distressed borrowers. He said today he would be campaigning on a platform of jobs, debt management and improved healthcare services.
Socialist Ruth Coppinger and Fianna Fáil's David McGuinness are strong candidates for the Dublin West seat but Mr Hall said he was "most certainly in with a chance". He said constituents require politicians who will "fight their corner… not people who are going to get involved in political ping pong within Leinster House."
Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin today said delegates would decide who contested the Dublin West byelection for the party at a selection convention next Monday.
He said David McGuinness, who came second to Mr Nulty in 2011, had performed “above expectations, if truth be told” by claiming 7,742 first preference votes, and would be running again.
Mr Martin said the party would not be “parachuting” a candidate in to contest the election. Asked if this was a reference to Anita Lenihan, the sister of Brian Lenihan who is said to be seeking a nomination, Mr Martin said that was not the case.
“I meant it in the context of a George Lee, maybe,” he said.
Meanwhile, environmental campaigner Duncan Stewart has decided not to contest for a seat in the upcoming European Parliament elections. Mr Stewart previously stated he was seriously considering running in the Ireland South constituency but has since decided against a move into politics.
In a statement issued by the Green Party, Mr Stewart said he had considered his position very carefully. “Ultimately, for me, it is about the Green message. I would have run as an independent but didn’t want to risk splitting the vote with Green Party candidates which I feared might dilute that message.”
Instead he pledged his support to party candidate Grace O’Sullivan, a political newcomer who he described as “a mother of three with a passionate and sincere campaigning spirit”.
Separately, election watchers on social media have been keeping track of misspellings on campaign posters, with at least three “independant” candidates coming in for some light ridicule.
