Election "a vote for the current government", says Former Minister Martin Cullen
Election "a vote for the current government", says Former Minister Martin Cullen. Photo by Hugh Dooley.
Former Fianna Fáil senior Minister Martin Cullen said he was "thrilled" that his party colleague Minister Mary Butler has hit the quota in Waterford. He described the election results as "a vote for the current government".
"From a Waterford perspective, I'm obviously thrilled that Minister Mary Butler was re-elected."
"I think the City needed that," Former Minister Cullen said, but noted his disappointment for sitting Independent TD Matt Shanahan who is in a challenging battle for the final seat in Waterford, "I'm sad for Matt Shanahan, Matt was a very vocal and forceful TD."
The former Minister, who held a number of senior positions in Dáil Éireann including as Minister for Transport from 2002 until 2010, was surprised by Sinn Féin's performance in the constituency.
"I don't think anyone thought that Sinn Féin would get the two [seats], but in my personal view, the two parties - Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael - should have seen that they were leaving the entire west of the country open to him."
"In fairness to [McGuinness], he has really capitalised on it. I think in years gone by we'd have run a blocking candidate in the West - they mightn't have won but they would have reduced his vote.
During his time in government, Martin Cullen was widely considered to be a champion for the Waterford people, he said he will be looking at Fianna Fáil's Mary Butler and John Cummins of Fine Gael to provide that drive in this government:
"I'm looking very strongly at Mary and John - we have to have someone in the cabinet to get what Waterford needs," he said, "if you look at the airport and the hospital, they're the two biggest issues, and the third biggest issue is the need for structural investment into the airport."
He continued, "Those things need to be done, and we need a voice for the Waterford people, we need decision-makers [in government]."
"I always said when I was running; 'I never wanted to be the person knocking on the door, I want to be the person behind the door making the decision!"
"Waterford desperately needs that now," he said, "it's up to Martin and Harris not to make sure that Waterford has someone in Cabinet."
