Seánaí Kiely, Cllr Tom Cronin, Micheál Martin, TD Leader of Fianna Fáil, Michael J. Walsh, Cllr Mary Butler, Joe Walsh and Jim O'Neill.
However, Mr Martin did not confirm if the party would put forward a second candidate in the constituency for the upcoming general election despite recent strong calls from local party members to do so.
Speaking to The Munster Express, Mr Martin said the party’s national constituency committee would give the issue “full consideration”.
“We will look at the submissions which have been made and take those on board,” he said.
“Obviously we want to maximise the Fianna Fáil vote. We want to win back a seat in Waterford and I believe we have a very good chance. We did very well in the local elections. Cllr James Tobin has been an excellent Mayor and Cllr Jason Murphy has been very strong as Deputy Mayor.”
He added: “You can have a situation where too many candidates in a constituency can militate against a critical mass of votes.”
Despite the promotion of new faces within the party both locally and nationally, Mr Martin did not express any concerns over the potential impact of the re-emergence of a number of high profile formers TDs such as Mary Hanafin and Martin Mansergh.
Mr Martin said former TDs were entitled to run as candidates in their respective conventions.
“After all, we live in a democracy,” he said.
During his visit to Waterford last Friday, Mr Martin attended a lunch hosted by Fianna Fáil Comhairle Dáil Ceantair at Lawlor’s Hotel in Dungarvan.
He also conducted a walkabout in Dungarvan with Cllr Mary Butler who was chosen as the party’s general election candidate in the Waterford constituency at a selection convention last month.
“I think we have an excellent candidate in Mary Butler. She has a very good understanding of the needs and challenges of families in Waterford and indeed across the country,” said Mr Martin.
He said Cllr Butler was also aware of business needs through her work at John Martin Jewellers in Waterford City.
“She understands the need of commercial rate payers; the needs of the city centre; and the overall strategic needs of the Waterford City,” he said.
There has been recent high profile criticism of the Fianna Fáil party, in particular by former member Senator Averil Power, with claims that the party is an “Old Boys’ Club”.
However, Cllr Butler said she has received fantastic support from the party since being selected at convention and since deciding to stand in the local elections last year.
In particular, she praised her fellow Fianna Fáil councillors in the Comeragh District Cllr John O’Leary and Cllr M J O’Ryan.
Cllr Butler, who runs a clinic in Portlaw every Tuesday night, says the most common issues which people are contacting her about include social housing and issues relating to University Hospital Waterford (UHW).
“I am very community focused. I have always been involved in my local community,” she said.
“I live in Portlaw and I work in Waterford City. I am approximately forty minutes from all areas in Waterford and I will represent all areas of Waterford City and County if elected.”
