A row is looming in the Green Party over the decision by one of its MEPs to support an independent in Dún Laoghaire over the official party candidate.
Ms Nuala Ahern MEP has come out in favour of her father, Mr Vincent MacDowell, a local councillor who stood for the Greens unsuccessfully in three previous general elections. He decided to stand as an independent after losing a closely-fought contest for the party nomination to the Greens' transport spokesman, Mr Ciarán Cuffe.
Yesterday, he accused the party of "cynical parachute politics" for moving Mr Cuffe into the constituency. He also claimed the selection convention was manipulated.
However, Mr Cuffe said the convention was "all above board and fair". After Mr MacDowell had queried the result, the party held an inquiry that confirmed the outcome.
He pointed out that although he was a councillor in Dublin city centre, he grew up in Shankill, in the Dún Laoghaire constituency.
Ms Ahern described the affair as "unfortunate" and said she admired both men. But she confirmed she would be campaigning for her father next week.
Responding to Ms Ahern's stance, Mr Cuffe remarked: "We are a wide church. . . but I'm not sure we're that wide".
However, Mr Cuffe said he could understand a daughter wishing to support her father.
The Greens have also had difficulties in Wexford. Candidate, Mr Michael Cuthbert, dropped out because he is not Irish. Local party members objected to an attempt to nominate his partner, Ms Miranda Ó Bolguidhir, as a replacement. Ms Ó Bolguidhir is now standing as an independent.
