HECTIC FEW MONTHS FOR LOCAL CANDIDATES, BUT IN END THE PEOPLE
IMELDA NOW JUST WANTS TO GET BACK TO WORK
SHE may have epitomised the meaning of landslide victory, but for Imelda Munster, it’s just business as usual.
Receiving 17,203 first preference votes in the recent election, the Sinn Fein stalwart sailed back into the Dail where she had been Louth first female TD, but plans on simply continuing where she temporarily left off.
“I was slightly overwhelmed at the amount of votes, but you could feel a sense of momentum building over the last while, and I am very humbled, and want to thank every man and woman who voted for me and my party,’ she says.
“People have voted for change and want a more caring Government, and in no way to I think it was a protest vote, and if the two other parties are saying that, it’s just a comfort blanket to them - people are clearly sick of them.”
Of course, whether her party can actually turn their newfound popularity into a Government
is going to take weeks to emerge, and Deputy Munster says there is no point in musing about missed seats.
“Nobody had a crystal ball, and we could never have envisaged such a swing, but personally, I would like to see a left Government, and Mary Lou has said she will talk to anyone to get the people what they want,” she explains.
“For us, it is great that we returned two TDs to the county, at the top of the poll and we can’t wait to get to work.”
The pressure is on now for Deputy Munster to deliver for Drogheda too, along with her two other locally-based TDs Ged Nash and Fergus O’Dowd.
“It is brilliant that we have three TDs south of the county, and Drogheda will be well represented, and we all need to deliver on health, housing and garda resources,” says the Sinn Fein representative.
“Also from an investment point of view, funding for the Northern Cross Route is a priority and I want to ensure that Drogheda is no longer left behind.”
And no one can argue that Drogheda hadn’t fallen behind in terms of investment, whether that is in social housing, infrastructure or policing.
“It has really become apparent in the past year or so, and I will continue to push for more garda resources,” she says.
“There is a real lack of community policing, and 22 gardai were taken away from Drogheda allowing this criminality to take root, and I think restoring that will make a huge difference.”
She says housing is a major issue, as is the need for investment in local jobs.
“For years, the IDA park was left barren and now the new Data Centre will take over the whole park with very few jobs, and there is no evidence it will make the town attractive to investors” says Deputy Munster.
“I do support the city status proposal however, investment is needed, first - such as funding for the Northern Cross Route, to take the traffic away from the town, and the borough council should be reinstated, with a Town Clerk, so the bucks stops here.
“This is my town, and it is a town I love’.