FG dissident Walsh to seek readmittance to parliamentary party

STEVEN CARROLL

The only Fine Gael dissident who has not joined the Reform Alliance group is to reapply for membership of the senior Coalition partner's parliamentary party in the coming months.

Galway West TD Brian Walsh said that while he would not be rushing his application to rejoin the parliamentary party, he has received indications from senior party figures that it will be looked upon favourably and that he might be back in time for the Fine Gael Ardfheis next month.

However, Mr Walsh told The Irish Times he will wait until the summer, or one year after he was expelled from the Fine Gael parliamentary party for voting against the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill.

“Maybe before the summer recess I’ll make an application to rejoin,” Mr Walsh said. “A number of colleagues, senior ministers and parliamentary party members suggested I should make the application in the New Year.”

Supported Government
In contrast to other abortion rebels such as Lucinda Creighton, who has taken numerous positions against the Coalition and formed the new political grouping, Mr Walsh has consistently supported the Government.

At the time of the Dáil vote on abortion, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said anyone who lost the whip would not be allowed run for Fine Gael at the next general election, but Mr Walsh said he hoped to do so. Mr Walsh and Mr Kenny were seen together at an event in Galway before Christmas.

His brother John Walsh will contest a seat on Galway City Council for Fine Gael in the local elections in May, and Brian Walsh said he would continue to support the Government in the Dáil.

Speaking in Riyadh yesterday during a trade mission to Saudi Arabia, Mr Kenny left open the possibility that members of the Reform Alliance could rejoin the Fine Gael parliamentary party.

Mr Kenny said: “You can never say no to anything.” He noted the conference being hosted by the group later this month was about policy issues.

Separately, asked if he would like to rejoin Fine Gael’s Dáil ranks, Dublin North East TD Terence Flanagan said: “You never know what will happen in the future.”

Numerous members of the Reform Alliance have insisted they are not forming a new political party. The group’s conference is scheduled to take place in the RDS on January 25th. Mr Kenny said it could come up with good ideas.

“The Government always welcomes new ideas and new proposals,” he said.

“In more than any other sector of Irish life, public meetings may well come forward with good ideas and if they are good ideas and worth considering we will give consideration to them from whatever party they come from.”