*Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
TAOISEACH Simon Harris (FG) said the issue of Clare TD Joe Carey’s (FG) political future and intentions in standing for election were not discussed when the pair met recently.
From the steps of the Hogan Stand in Croke Park in 1995, victorious Clare captain Anthony Daly memorably stated, “there’s been a missing person in Clare for 81 long years, today that person has been found alive and well, that’s person name is Liam MacCarthy”.
As Tony Kelly lifted the Liam MacCarthy a fortnight ago, there were many dignotories surrounding him in the background including the ‘missing person’ in the Clare political world, Deputy Carey.
Carey has been out of action since a health scare last March where he was treated for cardiac issues. The Clarecastle man has rarely been seen in public since but attended the All-Ireland hurling final in the Ard Chomairle section and a day previous was a guest at the wedding of former Clare hurler, Conor Plunkett.
After offering his congratulations to the Clare senior hurlers and posing for a photograph with All-Ireland winning manager Brian Lohan, the Taoiseach was questioned by The Clare Echo on whether he spoke with Deputy Carey on his political future in Croke Park.
According to the Taoiseach, the duo did not have such a discussion. He said that he was very pleased to see Deputy Carey who was in fine form after Clare won their fifth All-Ireland title, “he had tears of joy at the final whistle,” Harris said.
Fine Gael are to hold their selection convention next month to finalise their General Election ticket and the aspirations of Deputy Carey are unclear. All involved in the political scene are sympathetic to his health conditions but those involved in the party are becoming frustrated at the lack of information that has been fed to them to allow for a plan to be put in place.
Former Minister for Rural and Community Development, Michael Ring (FG) this week became the fifteenth Fine Gael TD to announce they will not be contesting the next General Election.
