by Andrew Carey
TWO YEARS ago, with his political ambitions thrown into uncertainty, Emmett O’Brien saw an opportunity to fight for an “evaporating rural Ireland”.
This week, with the bookies tipping him for election to the Dáil, the independent councillor says the script is not yet written for the General Election and the people of County Limerick have the opportunity of allowing him to make their voice heard at national parliament.
Addressing a group of 400 supporters at the Woodland House Hotel last week, the Pallaskenry-based public representative, farmer and barrister said he believes the work ethic instilled in him from an early age will enable him deliver for the rural communities who have been left behind.
“After choosing a path in public life, I knew what I could achieve for my constituents”, he added.
“It is well-known that I was former member of the Fianna Fáil national executive but that ended in fraught circumstances. I was faced with a choice – do I stay in Fianna Fáil and play the game and keep my mouth shut, or do I take the road less travelled and make the move to offer what I could for the people of the community ?”
“I don’t fear a party whip and I’m free from back-biting. The other parties say we need stability and their propaganda claims that Independents can’t achieve anything. However, it is my firm belief that Independent TDs will stand very strong in the next election.
“I come from a dynamic constituency filled with potential and the rural areas of County Limerick can play a huge role in economic growth. If elected, I will go to the Dail to act on the mandate that you give me and bring more investment and jobs to the area”, he added.
Canvassing on combatting crime, health issues and rural isolation, Cllr O’Brien said that more than 300,000 young people between the age of 18 and 30 hadleft the country since the downturn of the economy.
“The number of rank and file Gardaí has dropped below 13,000 – something that Government said they would not let happen.
“I say it again, the script is not written”, he declared.
