Fianna Fáil has told the Kerry North organisation that a number of its senior officers are not in compliance with party rules.
The party wants officers of the Kerry North Dáil Cheantair - treasurer, former TD Denis Foley; chairman Ned O'Sullivan, mayor of Kerry; and vice-chairman John Brassil, a sitting councillor - removed from their positions. They were elected at the agm of the Comhairle Dáil Cheantair in March.
Fianna Fáil general secretary Seán Dorgan said: "Mr Foley was not in compliance because he had already served a four-year term as treasurer, and it was against party rules to serve more than four years in an ongoing position. Mr O'Sullivan and Mr Brassil were sitting councillors and as such were not eligible to hold officer positions."
The issue was one of "rules and procedures", Mr Dorgan insisted, amid speculation in the constituency that the intervention was at the instigation of sitting TD Tom McEllistrim. However, Mr Dorgan denied this was the case. He also said headquarters' object was not to tell people what to do but to build an effective organisation.
Mr McEllistrim said he knew nothing about the approach by headquarters to the Kerry North office- holders.