Former Kells area cllr to carry Sinn Fein election hopes

Sinn Féin in Meath has selected former county councillor, Michael Gallagher, as its candidate for the Meath East constituency. The former Kells area councillor was picked at a convention in the Headfort Arms Hotel, Kells, on Thursday evening where 60 SF delegates unanimously supported his candidacy. He was proposed by Sinéad Burke and seconded by the Mayor of Navan, Cllr Joe Reilly. In accepting the nomination, Mr Gallagher said: "There is massive anger among the people of Meath. This anger is not because they are being asked to pay more, but because they are being asked to pay more to bail out bankers and speculators - the friends of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael - the same people who have put us in this mess." He went on: "We are a resolute people who have dealt with hardship and adversity in the past and are prepared to do it again. However, we are not prepared to cut jobs, teachers, hospital services and pensions, while bankers, developers and politicians swan off on their luxury yachts to their holiday homes." He said the challenge was to create real change that gives people hope. "In Meath, Sinn Féin has developed a job creation strategy and an investment strategy, something that Fianna Fáil have not felt necessary. "In government in the North, which is vulnerable to the same global economic crisis, Sinn Féin ministers have created jobs, have cherished public services to ensure that not only jobs are maintained, but that hospitals function efficiently and that school class sizes are reduced. Public investment into government construction projects in the North is providing new homes, better roads, jobs and public services. This is not rhetoric or empty promises - this is good government just 60 miles up the road." Mr Gallagher said the challenge for Meath Sinn Féin was to take the massive anger among the people and show them that his party was the one to deliver real change and real government that serves the people, and not the bankers and politicians.