John Lahart selected to contest seat in Dublin South West

• News
• October 06, 2017

By Aura McMenamin

Following a vote by party members on Monday night, TD John Lahart has been selected to run for the Fianna Fáil seat in Dublin South West in the next General Election,  reports Aura McMenamin.

The incumbent TD was originally up against local councillors Charlie O’Connor and Paul Foley, but it is understood that O’Connor withdrew his name before the voting took place in the Maldron Hotel.

Only one Fianna Fáil seat is being put forward presently for the next election, which is expected to be held by or before 2021.

It is understood that Deputy Lahart won the selection by 40 votes to 25 over Cllr Foley.

Deputy Lahart said: “This is the third time I’ve been selected to contest the election. I’m very delighted to represent Fianna Fáil in the next general election.”

Cllr Paul Foley said he welcomed the selection of Deputy Lahart, but hoped the party would ‘be more ambitious’ and put forward another seat. He added: “Party headquarters are looking at every Dublin constituency and putting forward one Fianna Fáil seat, then looking at the polls and deciding whether to add more.”

He also said that the introduction of gender quotas, which require political parties to put forward 30 per cent female candidates for the next general election in order to receive state funding, were making it “increasingly difficult as a man to break into politics.”