Nominations open for Fine Gael candidate for Galway West bye-election / Tá ainmniúcháin oscailte d’iarrthóir Fhine Gael don fhothoghchán i nGaillimh Thiar

Fine Gael has opened the nomination process to select the party’s candidate for the upcoming Galway West by-election.

A candidate selection convention will take place in the constituency on February 22^nd and nominations will remain open until February 12^th. A meeting of Fine Gael’s Executive Council was held last night (Tuesday) which agreed this process.

In advance of this decision, six consultative meetings were held in early January with members and supporters across the constituency.

To be a candidate, a person needs to be nominated by any two Galway West Fine Gael members. The February 22^nd selection convention will take place in the Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill. At the convention, Fine Gael members in compliance with the two-year rule will vote to select the party’s candidate for Galway West.

Party leader Tánaiste Simon Harris has appointed the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke as the Director of Election for the Galway West by-election.

Speaking as nominations opened, Minister Burke said Fine Gael is determined to win the seat at the upcoming by-election.

“Our consultative meetings with members show huge enthusiasm for this by-election. The immediate job at hand is to select a candidate. We have some brilliant public representatives in Galway West and we will be running a positive, energetic campaign that engages all voters in the constituency.

“Effective representation in Galway West depends on having government TDs who can play an active and constructive role in shaping Government policy and advocating for local priorities.

“As Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, I know the key issues facing Galway West businesses, both big and small, especially the tourism sector which plays a huge part in the Galway local economy.

“With global uncertainty, we can take nothing for granted. A focus on jobs, skills and housing for people in Galway West will be central to this by-election, ensuring Galway people can live, study and find quality employment and housing locally.

“Fine Gael has a strong team across Galway, with the successful candidate aiming to join Minister for Education Hildegarde Naughton in Dáil Éireann.  Let’s give the region the loudest possible voice and the largest party representation.

“The nomination process is now open, and members will have their say on who they want to represent them in the Dáil.  Fine Gael is committed to putting forward candidates who will work hard for the constituency, and this process begins with people stepping forward, engaging with our membership over the coming weeks and putting their case forward,” Minister Burke said.

All nominated candidates proceed to a selection convention, where all members with membership for the past two membership years will have a vote.

Tá Fine Gael tar éis an próiseas ainmniúcháin a oscailt chun iarrthóir an pháirtí a roghnú don fhothoghchán atá le teacht i nGaillimh Thiar.

Beidh coinbhinsiún roghnúcháin iarrathóra ar siúl sa toghcheantar ar an 22ú Feabhra agus fanfaidh ainmniúcháin oscailte go dtí an 12ú Feabhra. Tionóladh cruinniú de Chomhairle Feidhmiúcháin Fhine Gael aréir (Dé Máirt) inar aontaíodh an próiseas seo ann.

Roimh an gcinneadh seo, tionóladh sé chruinniú comhairliúcháin i dtús mhí Eanáir le baill agus le lucht tacaíochta sa toghcheantar.

Chun a bheith ina iarrthóir, ní mór do dhuine a bheith ainmnithe ag aon beirt chomhaltaí de Fhine Gael i nGaillimh Thiar. Beidh an coinbhinsiún roghnúcháin ar an 22ú Feabhra ar siúl in Óstán Chuan na Gaillimhe, Bóthar na Trá.  Ag an gcoinbhinsiún, vótálfaidh comhaltaí Fhine Gael i gcomhréir leis an riail dhá bhliain chun iarrthóir an pháirtí do Ghaillimh Thiar a roghnú.

Tá ceannaire an pháirtí, an Tánaiste Simon Harris, tar éis an tAire Fiontar, Turasóireachta agus Fostaíochta, Peter Burke, a cheapadh mar Stiúrthóir Toghcháin don fhothoghchán i nGaillimh Thiar.

Ag labhairt dó agus na hainmniúcháin á n-oscailt, dúirt an tAire Burke go bhfuil Fine Gael diongbháilte an suíochán a bhuachan san fhothoghchán atá le teacht.

“Léiríonn ár gcruinnithe comhairliúcháin le baill díograis ollmhór don fhothoghchán seo. Is é an chéad tasc atá idir lámha againn iarrthóir a roghnú. Tá ionadaithe poiblí den scoth againn i nGaillimh Thiar agus beidh feachtas dearfach, fuinniúil á reáchtáil againn chun teagmháil a dhéanamh le gach vótálaí sa toghcheantar.

“Braitheann ionadaíocht éifeachtach i nGaillimh Thiar ar Theachtaí Dála rialtais a bheith ann a féidir leo ról gníomhach agus tógálach a imirt i gcruthú beartais Rialtais agus i dtacaíocht do thosaíochtaí áitiúla.

“Mar Aire, Fiontar, Turasóireachta agus Fostaíochta, tuigim na príomhcheisteanna atá os comhair ghnólachtaí i nGaillimh Thiar, idir mhór agus bheag, go háirithe an earnáil turasóireachta a imríonn ról ollmhór i ngeilleagar áitiúil na Gaillimhe.

“Le héiginnteacht dhomhanda, ní féidir linn aon rud a ghlacadh mar dhála. Beidh fócas ar phoist, ar scileanna agus ar thithíocht do mhuintir Ghaillimh Thiar i gcroílár an fhothoghcháin seo, ag cinntiú gur féidir le muintir na Gaillimhe cónaí, staidéar a dhéanamh agus fostaíocht agus tithíocht ardchaighdeáin a fháil go háitiúil.

“Tá foireann láidir ag Fine Gael ar fud na Gaillimhe, agus tá sé mar aidhm ag an iarrthóir rathúil dul i dteannta an Aire Hildegarde Naughton i nDáil Éireann. Tugaimis an guth is láidre agus an ionadaíocht pháirtí is mó don réigiún.

“Tá an próiseas ainmniúcháin oscailte anois, agus beidh deis ag baill a rogha a dhéanamh ar an duine is mian leo a bheith ina n‑ionadaí sa Dáil. Tá Fine Gael tiomanta iarrthóirí a chur chun cinn a oibreoidh go dian ar son an toghcheantair, agus tosaíonn an próiseas sin le daoine ag teacht chun tosaigh, ag dul i dteagmháil lenár mballraíocht sna seachtainí amach romhainn agus ag cur a gcás chun cinn,” a dúirt an tAire Burke.

Rachaidh gach iarrthóir ainmnithe ar aghaidh go dtí coinbhinsiún roghnúcháin, áit a mbeidh vóta ag gach ball a bhfuil ballraíocht acu le dhá bhliain anuas.