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A second Fianna F\u00e1il member has been sacked from a senior party role due to his involvement in the unauthorized launch of a party election candidate in Northern Ireland.<\/p>\nA second Fianna F\u00e1il member has been sacked from a senior party role due to his involvement in the unauthorized launch of a party election candidate in Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n
\u00c9amon \u00d3 Cu\u00edv, who was front-bench spokesman for Regional Development, Rural Affairs and the Gaeltacht, has been demoted by party leader Miche\u00e1l Martin.<\/p>\n
The move was announced a day after Senator Mark Daly was stripped of his duties as Fianna F\u00e1il deputy leader in the Seanad for his role in the unsanctioned event in Omagh.<\/p>\n
Last month, Mr \u00d3 Cu\u00edv and Mr Daly revealed Sorcha McAnespy as a \u201ccandidate\u201d for next year\u2019s local government elections.<\/p>\n
The announcement appeared to herald Fianna F\u00e1il\u2019s long-anticipated move into electoral politics north of the border.<\/p>\n
Ms McAnespy is a member of Fianna F\u00e1il\u2019s National Executive and an independent councilor on Fermanagh and Omagh District Council.<\/p>\n
After the event in Omagh, photos were issued of the trio posing with Fianna F\u00e1il-branded election posters carrying Ms McAnespy\u2019s image, urging people to vote for her.<\/p>\n
Confusion abounded an hour later when Fianna F\u00e1il\u2019s official Twitter account said no decision had been made on contesting the 2019 election in Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n
Deputy \u00d3 Cu\u00edv’s continued membership of the party’s front bench is no longer tenable<\/p>\n
Party colleagues have since accused Mr \u00d3 Cu\u00edv and Mr Daly, who said they were acting as Ms McAnespy\u2019s campaign managers, of embarking on a \u201csolo run\u201d.<\/p>\n
The episode came amid ongoing speculation Fianna F\u00e1il might ultimately merge with the SDLP to run in future Northern Ireland elections.<\/p>\n
Mr Martin has previously stated his party\u2019s intention to stand in elections in Northern Ireland, though he has not made clear whether that would be on its own ticket or as part of a new political project with the SDLP.<\/p>\n
In the wake of the event in Omagh, Fianna F\u00e1il insisted talks with the SDLP were ongoing.<\/p>\n
Mr \u00d3 Cu\u00edv, a grandson of party founder \u00c9amon de Valera, was summoned to a meeting with Mr Martin on Wednesday night. On Thursday evening, the party announced the outcome.<\/p>\n
\u201cDuring the course of that meeting, Deputy \u00d3 Cu\u00edv made it clear that he was aware in advance of plans to hold an unauthorized launch of a candidate and agreed to participate in the event,\u201d said a party spokesman.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn light of this information, regretfully, Deputy \u00d3 Cu\u00edv\u2019s continued membership of the party\u2019s front bench is no longer tenable.<\/p>\n
\u201cHis portfolio responsibilities will be reassigned in the time ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n