FG send big guns to Cavan-Monaghan on first full day of campaign
Having announced the date of the election yesterday, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has wasted no time in igniting Fine Gael's campaign in Cavan-Monaghan as he visits the constituency today.
This morning the Taoiseach has been at the Monaghan premises of Combilift, for what has been described as a Fine Gael general election campaign event. Combilift have been one of the manufacturing success stories over the last decade as they build forklifts shipped worldwide from their Annahagh base.
Fine Gael will be eager for their record on Brexit - for which this visit to a successful business in Monaghan may be a visual shorthand - to be a key factor in the election.
The Taoiseach is expected to arrive in Virginia at 3.15pm, for what has been described as a 'walkabout'. The Tasoiseach's arrival will be a boost to local councillor TP O’Reilly’s campaign. Having just been elected to the local authority for the first time in May last year, it came as a major surprise to many that the party replaced FG stalwart Senator Joe O'Reilly with a political newcomer on their election ticket over Christmas.
Whilst Fine Gael will be eager to focus on the big money projects - the massive investment in Library/ Ramor Theatre, the planned Virginia bypass, and also new fire station, it hasn't been all good news for the government in the east Cavan town. The bypass has been one of the few Cavan projects included the government's Ireland 2040 infrastructure plan, but progress is slow as the plans have had to return to the drawing board. Also, while Virginia is a vibrant town, its potential to grow in population terms has been stymied by inadequate waste water infrastructure, which is preventing numerous proposed building projects from getting underway.
East to West
Meanwhile Tanaiste Simon Coveney will this afternoon attend Ballyconnell and Cavan Town to give a boost to first time candidate Sandra McIntyre's campaign. The Bawnboy woman, who was the chair of Foróige nationally, previously welcomed the tanaiste as guest speaker at a well attended Brexit event she held in autumn at the Hotel Kilmore.
While Minister Heather Humphreys is expected to reclaim a seat in Cavan-Monaghan, the arrival of Fine Gael's two most senior figures on the first full day of campaigning in Cavan-Monaghan may be interpreted as a reflection on the need to raise the profiles of the Cavan based candidates in this five seat constituency.