Cork South West is a ‘key' battleground for Fianna Fail – Kelleher

FIANNA Fáil National Director of Elections Billy Kelleher has declared the Cork South-West constituency as a ‘key battleground’ for the party.

He was speaking after Dáil candidate Margaret Murphy O’Mahony spoke at the party conference and pressed the case for urgent flood relief and prevention investment.

‘Bandon has suffered at the hands of devastating weather.  In previous years Fine Gael ministers came down in their wellies to express sympathy and promise funds for flood defences,’ she said. ‘They promised that the flood relief scheme for Bandon would be complete in 2013.  Three years on, with people’s life’s work washed away in the front of their eyes, the town remains defenceless.  All the while €34m was unspent in the government’s coffers despite being earmarked for flood defences.’

She said the current government continues to ignore problems until they become a crisis. ‘I am telling them now, the crisis in Bandon is too big to ignore. The lack of leadership that allowed the flood defence plans promised in 2011 and 2012 to gather dust on a shelf is what we have come to expect from Fine Gael and Labour. 

Fianna Fáil’s National Director of Elections, Billy Kelleher, said that Margaret Murphy O’Mahony is an extremely strong candidate in her constituency.  ‘She is committed to building up our public services in communities across West Cork.  I am confident with a lot of hard work, Margaret and the team in West Cork can deliver this important seat for the party in what is a key battleground constituency in this election.’