11 October 2015
By Elaine Murphy
elaine@TheCork.ie
Sandra McLellan not to run
Sinn Féin Leader, Gerry Adams TD, has commented today on the decision made by Sandra McLellan TD not to run in the General Election.
Teachta Adams said:
“I was sorry to hear that Sandra McLellan decided not to contest the selection convention for Cork East.
“Sandra is a valued member of the Sinn Féin Oireachtas team and no doubt that this was a difficult decision for her. I wish her and her family well and I thank Sandra for her contribution to Sinn Féin.
“Sandra can be extremely proud of her work over the past four-and-half years as TD for Cork East and I hope that she will continue to make an important contribution over the remainder of this Dáil term.
“The life of a public representative can be very difficult at times but I am pleased, despite her decision not to stand again, that Sandra has expressed her support for Councillor Pat Buckley who has been selected as the Sinn Féin candidate for Cork East.
“Sinn Féin’s focus now returns to the important job of articulating our political message of equality and fairness throughout East Cork.
“Our aim is to retain this Sinn Féin seat and to continue the work Sandra did for Sinn Féin and the people of Cork East.”
Who will run on the Sinn Fein ticket iu Cork East? – Pat Buckley
Sinn Féin has selected Cllr Pat Buckley to contest the General Election in the constituency of Cork East.
Cllr Buckley was selected at a party convention held in the Radisson Blu Hotel in Little Island, speaking following his selection, he said;
“Firstly, I want to pay sincere tribute to Deputy Sandra McLellan for her years of hard work as a TD for the people of Cork East. She remains a valued member of Sinn Féin and our party’s team in the Oireachtas.
“I am honoured to be selected as the Sinn Féin candidate to contest this general election. I want to thank the membership of the party for putting their faith and trust in me. I believe that the people of this constituency will return a Sinn Féin TD and we will now busy ourselves with the work of continuing to articulate the republican message in the towns and villages throughout East Cork.
“The Fine Gael and Labour Party government have subjected ordinary people to extremely harsh austerity since 2011.This has resulted in a national housing emergency on an unprecedented scale. We have a crisis in our health system where people are left to languish on trolleys in our A&Es rather than getting access to the treatment they deserve. Unemployment remains a scourge that has not yet been dealt with effectively. We have levels of poverty and deprivation that are fighting.
“Rural Ireland has been decimated by this government. Those living in our towns and villages have been marginalised and isolated by the policies of Fine Gael and the Labour Party. Rural dwellers have had enough of being reduced to second class citizens due to a scandalous level of underinvestment and the destruction of our public services.
“Sinn Féin has a vision for a real republic. One in which citizens have real rights that cannot be discarded by an arrogant and detached government. We want to bring about the vision of equality and fairness as contained in the 1916 proclamation.
“That is the platform upon which I will be seeking election to the next Dáil.
“The people of East Cork would be far better of with a Sinn Féin government and by once again electing a Sinn Féin TD to represent their interests in Leinster House.”
Cllr Pat Buckley had his driving licence suspended in December 2014 for drink driving
Below is a video report from December 2014
