Eviction ban to have 'massive impact' insists Laois man in Fianna Fáil resignation statement which slams party over Bertie Ahern

A scathing attack has been launched at Fianna Fáil by Portlaoise man who is quitting the party after appearing to be in pole position to run in the 2024 local elections.

Donal Kelly has slammed party HQ, claimed the party has little or no organisation, called the return of Bertie Ahern to the fold an insult to the public and hit out at the lifting of the eviction ban.

In June 2022, FF HQ announced that Mr Kelly had been selected as their Local Area Representative for Portlaoise area. They said at the time that he was "delighted to represent his community"

The past pupil of St Mary’s CBS in Portlaoise and IT Carlow business graduate spoke of his pride at the time.

"I have never been prouder than when it was announced by the Fianna Fáil Party that I have been appointed as a Local Area Representative for the area,” he said.

The mood has changed radically. He issued a statement after Laois FF informed the Leinster Express / Laois Life that Mr Kelly was no longer a  member. Mr Kelly confirmed this.

"I recently resigned my membership from FF along with my position as Local Area Rep and Deputy Chairman of Portlaoise FF," he said.

He went on to outline his reasons.

"The notion of one member, one vote is a mere fallacy within Fianna Fáil, it has proven itself to be undemocratic as the mandarins in Mount Street call the shots in Laois.

"The decision didn't come out of the blue but rather it was a culmination of countless issues with the party both nationally and locally which are difficult to set apart. I was an outspoken opponent of the Programme for Government and I was a member of a group known as Cosmhuintir which campaigned against the Programme. 

"I canvassed in the last General Election on the basis that FF would not coalesce with Fine Gael and we all know what happened there. Another sickening aspect of Fianna Fáil entering the Programme For Government is the facilitation of The Green Party shoving their insane ideologies down the throats of the Irish people with absolutely no consideration for the hardships they cause, especially for the poor, elderly, middle-income families and rural dwellers," he said.

Mr Kelly, who contested the 2019 local election in the Portlaoise Municipal District also claimed the party is effectively in disarray in the county town 

"Locally within FF, there is little or no organisation. The Portlaoise Cumann hasn't had a meeting in four years which allows Fianna Fáil HQ in Dublin to decide what is best for Portlaoise and bring in candidates who have little or no connection to the area, and be set forward in elections, which is a massive insult to members and voters and I will not be a part of this.

"My core focus as a candidate in the 2019 elections was making life better for anyone I could. Getting elected for me is about "the people, the people, the people" and was I told to dispense with this belief as being a Fianna Fail candidate is about "The Party, The Party, The Party" and that notion is an anathema to me," he said.

Mr Kelly said the party has lost touch with voters.

"I have many great friends within the grassroots membership of the party who are hard-working, honourable and decent people and I shall remain grateful to them forever for their support and well wishes. To sum things up; Fianna Fail are out of touch and out of ideas and I am out of patience with them. If ever proof were needed of this, the welcoming back into the fold of Bertie Ahern speaks volumes and is not a merely step backwards but an absolute insult to the entire population of our country," he said.

He concluded by declaring his next step in politics saying the evictions ban and the shelving of plans to build a special school in Laois are key campaign issues.

"I informed the powers that be that I will contest next year's local election as an independent candidate and will start canvassing for this within the coming weeks. During the last local elections, housing was the number one issue on the electorate's mind and the problem has become even more acute with each passing month and the Government's decision to lift the eviction ban will, I believe have a massive negative impact on this crisis.

"The local scandal of the shelving of the building of Kolbe School is an issue that has angered me, just like everyone else in our community and I have been outspoken on this issue and I shall remain so," he said.

Apart from confirming his departure, Laois Fianna Fáil has so far declined to respond.

The move comes not long after a former independent local election candidate in Laois decided to join Fianna Fáil.

Questions remain despite Ministerial meeting over Portlaoise's Kolbe Special School

"After long consideration, discussions & feedback from my family & friends, I am announcing formally my decision to join the Fianna Fáil party after being approached by the party with a view to contesting the 2024 Local Elections," said Naeem Iqbal.

Fianna Fáil has two councillors on the Portlaoise Muncipal District. Cllr John Joe Fennelly draws much of his support from the Abbeyleix, Ballinakill area while Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald is town based.

The party shares power with Fine Gael on Laois County Council.