Since
the economic crisis began I have been appalled at the destruction of lives and
communities in the West of Ireland. Over the last 12 months, I have decided to
do something about it as part of the Right2Water Boyle campaign. Now with huge
encouragement from friends, local people and my colleagues in R2W, I’m
delighted to put myself forward as a candidate for the Roscommon/East Galway
constituency in the upcoming general election. I will stand for People Before
Profit because I believe that lives should come before big profits. We are told
that Ireland has the fastest growing economy in the EU and yet 21% of our
children still go to school hungry. This can only be the result of political
choices made by Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the Labour Party. The last two
governments have saved their elite friends and demanded that we pay for it.
Austerity has failed the population and the political establishment have failed
the people.
People
in the West have been hit particularly hard. There is anger and frustration at
the neglect of Roscommon by successive governments, with emigration becoming a
massive social problem. In my hometown of Boyle, it is difficult to find a
person between 18 and 27. Every town in the constituency also has poverty,
homelessness, deprivation and families being harassed by the banks. Boyle has
lost the fish factory, its hotel, its courthouse and the Grada station has had
its hours much reduced. We’ve had No government initiative or job creation in
over 20 years. This is reflected in every community, town and village in
Roscommon.
However,
the government didn’t count on the biggest citizen’s movement since the
foundation of the state. Ireland has woken up. Right2Water groups have helped
countless people to see the truth about austerity and why it is wrong on so
many levels. Right2Water has been the catalyst for major change in how politics
will be done in Ireland and PBP want to be part of this change. We want a real
democratic transformation, which puts the needs of people before the needs of
corporate greed. A Vote for me is a vote for someone who believes passionately in
grassroots democracy, genuine equality and hope for the future. I will lead
struggles and continue to stand with people in their fight against austerity
and unjust governance until we have a society that treats every citizen fairly.
