Waterford's Senator John Cummins to contest General Election for Fine Gael

Senator John Cummins will contest the next General Election for Fine Gael in the Waterford constituency.

Party members voted to select Senator Cummins at a convention held in the Granville Hotel, Waterford. The convention was chaired by Minister of State with responsibility for Research and Development, Farm Safety, and New Market Development, Martin Heydon TD.

Fellow party member, Cllr Declan Doocey, had intended putting his name in the ring for the nomination but withdrew his candidacy just before the selection ballot took place.

Cllr Doocey, who said he was withdrawing his candidacy for unity and in support of Senator Cummins, was at the centre of controversy recently over a company he runs that deals in waste farm plastics and the cost incurred by Waterford City & County Council in relation to cleaning up a site owned by his company.

Senator Cummins, who is 36, was elected as a member of Seanad Éireann in April 2022, and is currently Fine Gael’s Seanad spokesperson on Housing, Local Government and Heritage. He is also a member of the Joint Oireachtas Housing Committee.

A University of Limerick graduate and former geography and PE teacher, Senator Cummins was first elected to Waterford City Council in 2009, when he was just 21 years of age. He served as Mayor of Waterford on two occasions.

Speaking in the wake of his selection, Senator Cummins said: “I am honoured to have received the overwhelming backing of the Fine Gael membership in Waterford to contest the next General Election on behalf of the party I have been proud to represent for the past 15 years.

"It really is heartening to receive such an endorsement."

Senator Cummins said a lot was achieved in Waterford over the last decade and commented that “a complete turnaround in employment figures” was indicative of that, boosted by 73 per cent growth in IDA supported companies and 33 per cent growth in Enterprise Ireland supported businesses.

However, he said more needs to be done within a range of areas, including housing, health, education, agriculture and regional development.

“I am proud of the record €170 million investment currently taking place on the North Quays SDZ site in Waterford City,” he said.

“I look forward to continuing to work with the new Taoiseach, Simon Harris, on projects at Waterford Airport, SETU and UHW,” he added.

Commenting on his selection, Taoiseach Simon Harris said: “The process of selecting our candidates for the next General Election is well and truly underway and I am delighted that John Cummins has been selected by members to run in the constituency of Waterford. 

"John has proven himself to be an exceptional public representative and I know how passionate he is about the issue of housing and balanced regional development, particularly in Waterford and the South East region,” he added.

 The Taoiseach went on to comment that "while we take nothing for granted" he believed "a dynamic, diligent and enthusiastic candidate" like John is well positioned to win back a Dáil seat for Fine Gael in Waterford.