Murphy has ‘major decision’ to make this week

A “major decision” will be made this week by Fianna Fail Senator Eugene Murphy on his political future.

Last week, Senator Murphy was told by Fianna Fail party headquarters that he was not being added to the Roscommon Galway ticket for the next election, a decision which has left him “heartbroken.” 

The Scramogue man lost out to Ballygar’s Dr Martin Daly at the FF convention by eight votes, and he had argued strongly that the party needed to add a Roscommon candidate to the ticket.

Senator Murphy claimed that the party had made a “huge error of judgement and it’s going to come back to bite them”. He also warned that the decision had “split the party right down the middle” locally.

He pointed out there were 70,000 people living in County Roscommon "and for the first time in Fianna Fáil’s history, it has decided not to put up a Roscommon candidate".

When asked by the Herald whether he would run as an independent, he said he was considering his options.

“I am in the process of consulting widely with my family and my supporters and the Fianna Fáil grassroots. I have also had a discussion with some of my Oireachtas Fianna Fáil colleagues and others as well outside of Fianna Fáil,” he told the Herald.

He said that that process was not finished and hoped to finish it this week, “and then I will have to make a major decision as to what I am going to do”.

“It remains to be seen what will happen in those consultations with people. It would be wrong of me to make any decision just right now. I am getting a great reception from the people on the streets, and I am so heartened by their comments that I was never afraid to stand up on issues and never was. Obviously, a lot of them would like me to pursue this further.” 

On Monday, he said he had not made a decision yet, but that the Tánaiste and party leader, Micheál Martin had contacted him.

“There have been ongoing discussions with the Tánaiste but there is absolutely nothing definite on the table. It is very late in the day when all doors were closed that people started talking to me,” he said. “The conversation will continue this week.” 

He added that he could not begin any re-election campaign to the Seanad, as was suggested in some quarters, until he received a nomination from his party.