Cassidy tops poll to be re-elected FF vice-president

Donie Cassidy has topped the poll to be re-elected as vice-president of Fianna Fáil at the Ard Fheis in the Dublin’s RDS over the weekend.

“I have to say that I’m deeply honoured to be re-appointed by the rank and file members of Fianna Fáil of which I have been one of since the age of twelve,” he told the Westmeath Examiner this week.

The Taoiseach congratulated the Castlepollard man on topping the poll, saying that it was “a great tribute by the membership”.

Looking ahead however, Donie says the party faces big challenges to reorganise itself before the European and Local elections in 2024.

“We haven’t met as an organisation at Cumann level or any other level until the Ard Dheis in two and half years,” says the seasoned FF man, who explains that his job will be to go around the constituencies in the Midlands, “reorganising all the Cumanns, the Comhairle Ceantairs, the Comhairle Dáils, to get it up to where we are at the present time”.

“We are the largest party in the Dáil, the largest party in the Seanad and in the Councils, so we’ve a lot of work to do to get ourselves back to where we are,” he admitted.

“The Budget has been to answer the call of the nation in these Emergency times, if we have to look at it again in February, the Taoiseach has said the government will definitely do that."

Challenging times

“We’re living in the most challenging times in the history of our country, between the Brexit situation, the Ukrainian situation and the Covid situation," said the former TD and Senator.

"Not in my public lifetime have I ever witnessed a challenge like this," continued Donie.

"I suppose those who lived through the last world war probably had these massive challenges, but certainly not since the fifties has the government faced challenges such as these.

“And I have to say the government has acted very humanely to deal with businesses and families, and in trying to do their best to keep everyone going during these emergency times.

“Look, there’s a huge volume of work to do and I hope to be able to lead as a vice-president in various constituencies in the Midlands to help and assist the organisation.”