Yet another Fianna Fáil councillor has announced his exit from the party – the third one since last week.
Councillor William O’Leary, 33, of the North Cork constituency, made the announcement on Facebook this week, saying he did so with “a very heavy heart” but a “clear conscience.”
“I have been disgruntled with Fianna Fail, my own party, for some time, and I feel the decision I have come to is the right one,” he said.
“…In my 5 years as a County Councillor, I have, to my disappointment, observed the failure of my party to listen to the ordinary people on the everyday issues and struggles that they face and to myself as a Councillor (on the bottom of the political ladder).”
O’Leary said that he had “serious concerns” about the alliance of Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and the Green Party for a coalition government, and voted against it.
“In my view, many of these concerns have now materialised,” he said.
“Since the foundation of the State, at different times either Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael have governed this country. What makes a good government is an even stronger opposition. That is what keeps a government on its toes.
“In my view when these parties joined in coalition, strong opposition was lost. This left less pressure on Government to listen to the needs of the ordinary people. From there this government has adopted a ‘drive on regardless’ approach.”
He added: “I cannot in good conscience put myself forward as a Fianna Fail Candidate when I know my heart and soul wouldn’t be in it. I feel this would be dishonest with constituents and dishonest with the party itself which would lead me just going through the motions for the next number of years. This is not what the electorate vote a candidate in for.”
O’Leary said that he was an “independent thinker” who found “following the herd” on key issues “very difficult,” and that “this is not what being a public representative is about.”
“Fianna Fáil as a party has changed dramatically over the past decade and have abandoned many core values that I would have held dear,” he said.
“There are many good people in Fianna Fáil, both elected and ordinary supporters who say this to me regularly: the party has lost its identity. I hope someday that the Fianna Fáil party can rediscover this identity.”
The Councillor said he had “agonised” for several months over his next course of action, and had decided to run as an Independent candidate in the upcoming June election.
“People will of course have the final say on whether they want to elect me or not, but I feel in my role I have to be honest and upfront,” he said.
“People may put it down to me looking for electoral success, but that is certainly not the case. I enjoy working with people, I enjoy helping people and if the people decide that I am not for them that is their democratic right…People will have their say in June and I look forward to what I hope is your continued support.”
The news comes after Galway Fianna Fál Councillor in Connemara, Noel Thomas, announced that he had resigned from the party on Monday, claiming that the party had “become very detached from ordinary people”, and that he too would be running in the upcoming local election as an Independent.
Last week, another Fianna Fáil Councillor in the same area, Seamus Walsh, resigned from the party, saying he would be running under the Independent Ireland party banner in June.