Fine Gael push record on Brexit and Stormont at campaign launch
Sean McMahon
In Monaghan
The message Fine Gael were eager to push at their campaign launch in Monaghan yesterday was that they have the team to make the right decisions when it matters.
Whilst Taoiseach Leo Varadkar's contention that "it is great to get out of the capital" may be true, the choice of starting the campaign in a Border constitunency is directed at trying to focus voters' attentions on the government's record on Brexit and the restoration of Stormont.
The point was stressed by visiting the Combi Lift factory, a Monaghan manufacturing success story, exporting forklifts globally. It, like almost all businesses on the Border, would have been exposed to the risks of a disorderly Brexit.
At the outset the Taoiseach introduced his two new candidates in Cavan-Monaghan, TP O'Reilly and Sandra McIntyre and added that “this is a constituency in which we aim to gain a seat in the forthcoming general election”.
This election sees Cavan Monaghan expanded from a four seat constituency to a five seater; and also sees the return of west Cavan to the fold, along with the addition of a small section of west Co. Meath. They returned just one TD last time out - Minister Humphreys - while Senator Joe O'Reilly narrowly missed out on the fourth seat.
“There is no better place to launch our campaign than here in County Monaghan – it is a county that is on the Border and one that is very exposed and very vunerable to Brexit and to any instability in the North.
“It is a county that has done well in the last few years, and like it, neighbouring County Cavan, can actually do much better in the years ahead and we look forward to investing in jobs, roads and Broadband in particular.
“I am a big supporter of foreign direct investment in Ireland and I am a big supporter of the IDA. This investment is helping to transform our economy. Combi Lift is a great success story in going global,” said the Taoiseach, flanked by Tanaiste Simon Coveney, and other senior Fine Gael heavyweights Pascal Donohoe, Heather Humphreys, and Helen McEntee.
He said the Government had secured a withdrawal agreement that protects the interests of everyone on the Island of Ireland.
He said the New Decade, New Approach agreement signed off in recent days means “investment in major infrastructure projects, like the A5, which is also important in this county”.
In short the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said that Fine Gael was offering the people of Ireland a choice between “the right team with the right plan, which can deliver the best results for Ireland – making sure that when it comes to Brexit and protecting our Border communities, the economy and when it comes to looking after all of our people – that we chose the right team to bring us forward and that we never go back.”
Mr Varadkar stressed that they had the best TDs and politicians to negotiate the next phase of Brexit, namely the EU-UK future relationship talks that lie ahead.
Mr Varadkar added: “I want the next government to be in place, in time for the next council meeting in March and I believe that is crucial for the interests of our country.”