Letter to the Editor: Fine Gael and the next general election
'The predominant reason why 11,085 people cast a number one vote for the Fine Gael team in Waterford in the recent local elections was because of the relentless work rate of our public representatives led by Senator John Cummins.'
Dear Editor,
Once again the Waterford News and Star's “anonymous columnist” has demonstrated his deeply engrained bias and dislike for the Fine Gael party (Phoenix: 'Leadership and Development', July 2). His continued attacks, facilitated by this newspaper, only serve to make our party membership, supporters and public representatives more determined than ever to win a Dáil seat in the Waterford constituency at the next General Election.
At the end of his weekly soapbox rant, the “anonymous columnist” poses the question "why should someone vote for Fine Gael?" Perhaps the “anonymous columnist” should ask the 11,085 people who cast their number one vote for the Fine Gael team in Waterford a few short weeks ago. Clearly it has hurt him that Fine Gael received the highest vote share and number of seats on the recently elected Waterford City & County Council, hence his renewed focus of attack on our party.
If I was to hazard a guess at the predominant reason why 11,085 people cast a number one vote for the Fine Gael team in Waterford in the recent local elections, it would be because of the relentless work rate of our public representatives led by Senator John Cummins. Collectively, our team of eight councillors, Senator Cummins and his support staff in the Waterford City and Dungarvan offices work day in, day out, representing constituents when they are in need of help and support. That work is done quietly, every day of the week, out of the glare of the media and the wider public but when people need support, they know the local Fine Gael team stands ready to assist them and that counts at election time.
Of course many also recognise the significant progress that has been made in Waterford in the past 10-12 years under Fine Gael in government. Unlike the “anonymous columnist” who has a very short memory when it comes to certain things and a very long memory when it comes to others, the people of Waterford;
• Remember the depths of the recession when unemployment peaked at 15.1% and they can see the 73% increase in IDA supported employment and the 33% increase in Enterprise Ireland supported employment in Waterford, which now stands at 9,078 and 7,580 respectively.
• They also see the three new Advanced Manufacturing facilities that have been constructed by the IDA and the massive investment in flagship companies like Bausch & Lomb, Sunlife, Sanofi and Haleon to name but a few.
• They see the €170 million being invested by Fine Gael in government in transforming the North Quays site which many, including the columnist, said would never be supported. Such a transformative project would not have been possible without the leadership of Fine Gael politicians like Senator Cummins and Paudie Coffey.
• They see the €30 million flood relief schemes and €40 million court house and fire station delivered.
• They see a €25 million greenway linking Waterford City and Dungarvan and over €37 million invested on regeneration schemes in the city, Tramore and Dungarvan.
• They see the delivery of the second Cath lab, the 100-bed ward block, the 44% increase in staff, including 370 additional nurses, 47 additional consultants, 100 extra NCHD’s, 123 extra health and social care professionals and a budget increase of €89 million per annum at UHW since 2020.
• They see primary care centres operational in St. Otteran’s and Dungarvan and the new community Hospital at St. Patrick’s
• They see the thousands of social and affordable houses being built through innovative schemes, which Senator Cummins has led from the front on.
• They see record investment in school building projects throughout the county.
• They see millions being invested in sports capital and equipment grants, including over €7 million to Walsh Park.
• They see our new university with a leadership team that is the envy of the sector. They see the world-class SETU arena, the acquisition of 20 acres of the former crystal site which has paved the way for the redevelopment of the showrooms and offices that we can see before our very eyes. Of course further investment will follow and Senator Cummins is working collaboratively with newly appointment Minister O’Donovan to ensure the PPP is signed off as quickly as possible.
• In terms of rural and community development, this has been spearheaded by Fine Gael. Over €55 million has been delivered across a huge array of schemes. There’s not a town and village in the county that hasn’t benefited in some way.
So while the columnist always seeks to focus on the negative and present his biased view to readers, there are many thousands of Waterford people that recognise progress when they see it and the Waterford Fine Gael team look forward to building on this progress in the time ahead.
In the next General Election, the Waterford people will have the opportunity to choose who their four Dáil deputies are, and the columnist, despite his desire to influence the electorate, only has a single vote - that’s democracy. Our party will be running the highly experienced, capable, articulate and well-regarded Senator John Cummins. Should John be successful in his Dáil bid, he will be the most senior Fine Gael politician in the entire South East region. I would argue strongly that such a prospect can only bode well for Waterford going forward and should give those who criticise the influence of politicians from other counties cause for thought.
Yours sincerely,
Chairman
Waterford Fine Gael
