Cavan-Belturbet MD Candidates: Cllr Peter McVitty (FG)

First elected to Cavan County Council in 1999, he is married to Susan, has three children and three grandchildren. A haulier and warehouse owner, since 1988, he has been a strong advocate for greater supports for small business and for more investment in road and services, especially in rural towns and villages along the Border.

How do you unwind?

In this job its pretty hard at times because there's always something on seven days a week. But if I do [myself and Susan] head out to a country and western weekend, in Donegal Town or some place, a couple of nights away maybe, and if there's something on in the Ardhowen Theatre, there does be good sessions there. I do a bit of farming as well, but I'm pulling back from it.

Why should people vote for you?

I'm there 25 years so far, fought five elections and was successful in all thank god. That's up to the people of the area, the electorate. I try to do things as best I can and if somebody comes to me I meet them face to face. I try get things done nice quiet way, not too much fuss about anything. I'm not one for big publicity. If someone comes with a problem you try sort it out. As a politician, as a councillor, people discuss things with you all the time and you'll take that to the grave.

What will you do to address housing supply?

It’s a major problem, with the war that's happening, people in the country never expected it. These things happen, and you have to be prepared.

One thing we've discussed in the chamber, many times, is the major problem with planning. People look for planning, and faceless people object, hold-ups that go on and on and on. One off housing is another thing, because if a farmer has a son or daughter and land to build a house, and yes you can't build houses just anywhere, but it’s ridiculous to see objections come in. On one hand rural schools are closing, and on the other, if we don't get young people in to these areas they're gone anyway. You can't have it both ways.

Has Ireland taken in enough refugees?

We probably have and there's no point saying we haven't. I'm no expert, but the amount of people coming in through England with an open border, there needs to be checks. I believe the border should be at the ports. We should never have a hard border, and I never want to see one of them again. If they're being vetted at ports that's okay, but if they're not vetted, and getting in through England, that's a problem.

What is your main campaigning issues?

There is a major problem with broadband. I think it’s wrong you can have a connection 50 yards from the house and still can't be hooked up for two years. Migrants as well, definitely. Roads. Heather Humphreys has delivered a lot of money for LIS and roads the past few years, and that has to be acknowledged.

Should the biodiversity/ climate crises be at the very top of the council agenda?

We are a small country and we're doing our bit to deal with it as best we possibly can. You look to the likes of China and I don't think they're dealing with the problems they have. There's more pollution produced there in a day than here maybe in 12 months. Maybe more. It’s not simple, and you listen to debates with supposed experts, even they can't agree. As a county I think we're doing the best we can.

Who in a political sphere has influenced you the most?

I had a fierce admiration for former Minister and Ceann Comhairle, Tom Fitzpatrick. He was a man who always stayed with the people who elected him. To the present I have to say Heather Humphreys. She's a brilliant minister, and in the same league as him. Down the years we've heard people say rural Ireland is being forgotten about, but the amount of money she has got, Michael Ring started off giving grants and Heather has delivered something unbelievable after him.