Euro elections: Why you should vote for Fine Gael

Stephen Spillane is a long-time Fine Gael member from Cork. He was recently unemplyed when economic conditions forced his former employer to reduce staffing numbers. He blogs about European and Irish political issues here.

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The upcoming elections give the people of Ireland a chance to say enough is enough. Enough of this Government who wasted the boom, enough of a Government that has not delivered, enough of a Government that is ensuring Ireland is one of the last European countries to recover from this gobal recession. As a young unemployed person, I want to see Fianna Fáil out as quickly as possible.

A vote for Fine Gael on June 5th is only the only the start in getting Fianna Fáil out. To hit Fianna Fáil you need to hit them where it hurts, at the ballot box. That is where Fianna Fáil get their power, from control of local authorities and appointments made through them. June 5th is the starting place.

A vote for Fine Gael will help ensure that Fianna Fáil will not be in the next Government. Labour, if the maths are right, they will go into power with Fianna Fáil like they have done in the past.

Fine Gael is committed to improving Ireland. It is committed to getting people back to work. It is committed to getting rid of waste in the civil service and especially the health service, so that it is efficient and serves the people it is there for.

In the last 12 months the Governments have had two major opportunities to bring the public finances into order and on both occasions missed opportunities to bring about much needed change. But these elections will not change that straight away. We have to wait for a General Election for that.

In the European Elections Fine Gael have a mix of young and experienced candidates. These people want to help improve the lot and opportunities of young people in Ireland through European Programs and Investments.

In Dublin the current sitting Fine Gael MEP Gay Mitchell is a big supporter of young people. He has a wealth of experience in politics having served as a Minister of State and holding frontbench positions including: Health, Foreign Affairs and Justice. Since election in 2004 to the European Parliament Gay has served on the Petitions Committee, among others, which is European citizens’ way of petitioning the Parliament to look at issues. This ensures that Gay Mitchell knows exactly what the people want and not just in Ireland.

In Ireland East Fine Gael have two candidates, sitting MEP Mairead McGuiness and Senator John Paul Phelan. Mairead was elected in 2004 alongside Avril Doyle who is not seeking re-election. Mairead is a keen listener and a strong campaigner thanks to her background in broadcasting. She is a strong supporter of young people and turns up to a lot of youth events organised by Young Fine Gael. She too serves on the Petitions Committee.

John Paul Phelan was elected to the Seanad in 2002; from 2002 to 2007 he was the youngest member of the Seanad. John Paul was also the youngest ever person elected to Kilkenny County Council, to which he was elected in 1999. This year JP, as he is known, is running to try and hold the second Fine Gael seat. JP is the Seanad spokesperson for Enterprise, Trade & Employment; he is dedicated to getting people back to work especially young people.

In North West Fine Gael are also running two candidates. Just like in East one is a sitting MEP, Jim Higgins, and the other is a senator, Senator Joe O’Reilly. Jim Higgins was elected to the European Parliament in 2004. He sits on the Committee on Regional Development in the Parliament. This gives him a unique position to argue for EU funds for Ireland and for the North-West. Jim is a former second-level teacher so can readily understand the needs of young people.

Senator Joe O’Reilly is contesting for a second Fine Gael seat in North-West. Joe is a former teacher so well suited to conveying the needs of young people and getting results. Joe has served on and off in Seanad Eireann since 1989 giving him a wealth of experience in legislating and getting things done.

In South Fine Gael are again running two candidates. Sitting MEP Colm Burke and former GAA President Sean Kelly are both seeking to be elected. Colm took over Simon Coveney’s seat in 2007. Colm is a founder member of Young Fine Gael and has a long history of supporting young people in Cork and across Ireland through his involvement in Young Fine Gael. He has campaigned on many issues in his time including getting rid of references to “illegitimate children” from the statute books.

Sean Kelly as a former GAA man is well suited to fighting battles having steered through the difficult issue of opening up of Croke Park to other sports through the GAA. His GAA experience also means he well suited to standing up for young people and ensuring their needs are met.

Fine Gael have seven candidates for Europe who are willing to stand up for the young people of Ireland. They will fight Ireland’s corner in the European Parliament to ensure that we get the best we can for our people. To get them back to work and to get things done. The Fine Gael candidates are committed and will work for you.

Fine Gael is committed to ensuring there is something to leave our younger generations. To encourage them to pick up the mantel, to help in getting Fianna Fáil out of power to ensure there is a bright future ahead. The European elections is one step to achieving this.

On June 5th you can help start that change! Vote Fine Gael.

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