Murphy vows to work 24/7 for area
Having been deselected by Fine Gael in December, Verona Murphy proved her doubters wrong, winning the third seat in the General Election at the expense of Fine Gael junior minister Michael D’Arcy Jnr and Fianna Fáil’s James Browne.
Only the second female TD in the county’s history, Murphy said she always felt she was in with a strong chance of being elected, particularly as an Independent.
Having secured 5,825 first preference votes, her position was far from safe on the first count, but strong transfers, particularly from Independent candidate Ger Carthy, Fianna Fáil’s Michael Sheehan, and Michael D’Arcy Jnr saw her leapfrog Fianna Fáil TD James Browne into third place, having already managed to stay ahead of deputies Paul Kehoe and Malcolm Byrne.
‘This means a lot. I was quite happy with the percentage we attained in first preference votes. As an Independent candidate you are definitely more transfer friendly.’ she said.
‘It means that the people of Wexford have put their faith in me. I will be a woman which will bring somewhat of a balance within the five seat constituency and I am the second woman after Avril Doyle (to be elected). If I can do as good a job as Avril I’ ll be doing well for the people of Wexford.’
Murphy was elected on the 11th count shortly before 3 p.m. on Monday and was overcome with emotion as she hugged her parents Paddy and Breda and daughter Robyn.
She said: ‘I do hope people absolutely voted for me for my ability but the fact that I am a woman makes it extra special. I still considered the people of Wexford were under represented and that has driving me forward.’
Ms Murphy announced through the New Ross Standard in January that she was running as an Independent, saying she was more suited to being out of the party political system as it limits free speech.
She said her experience in politics has been a learning curve, adding that she is ready to work for the people of Wexford on several issues.
Ms Murphy shot to national prominence becoming the most high profile candidate in the by-election when she made comments about the need for better security in the country.
The Ramsgrange woman said: ‘I will be a 24/7 TD. Anybody can call me at any time. I will be there to make sure that cardiac and mental health services are prepared 24/7 for the people of Wexford.’
Her first official function as a TD will be to attend a meeting of retailers in New Ross on Tuesday night organised by the County Wexford Chamber.
She plans to open an office in
New Ross and may keep her Wexford office open. ‘I will have to look at finances and see how I’m fixed but I do hope to open two offices.’
She said her campaign cost a lot of money, thanking everyone who made a financial contribution to it.
‘There was a lot of expense but people were very good. I had a GoFundMe page and that was contributed well over what is expected also people have contributed.’
She said she does not know exactly how much she received in donations. Among the issues she plans to tackle are the ‘Dublin/ rural disconnect’, mental health services, a second cath lab, and housing. ‘Housing particularly because we need a good look at the ministerial guidelines if we are ever to work for the rental limbo that we have of particularly young people now in Wexford.’
She also plans to fight for a technical university for the south east.
She said her life experience will enable her to find a solution to these problems.
‘I think it did in my younger days. I have vast experience both personally and in my business career so I hope to be of great use.’
She said she can work with anybody, including all of Wexford’s TDs.
‘I can work with anybody. It’s about being constructive and consultative and I think that’s where we will work together. There is a vast array of representation now in the Wexford constituency but I think it’s important at all levels that we are working for the greater good.
‘This is not about Verona Murphy this is about Wexford and the Wexford people and their representation. I will continue to represent the people of Wexford but for the greater good. Housing and mental health are issues that are countrywide particularly for rural towns.’
She said she would listen to approaches from all party leaders, including Leo Varadkar. ‘I would need to see a programme for Government, what is being proposed and what’s in it for the people of Wexford.’
She is looking forward to being 24/7 available to people to help them with their problems.
Murphy thanked her campaign team lead by Cyril Barden.
‘They have been absolutely outstanding the people who voted for me and those who haven’t. I will be representing everybody. Cyril is a well known campaign manager and is a previous campaign manager of Avril Doyle and other successful candidates in Co Wexford. He has been outstanding.’
She said she ran a clean campaign, adding that some of her posters were stolen.
‘Politics is politics. At the end of the day it’s not personal. I empathise with anyone here today who is not elected. For them it is absolutely devastating. I’ve been through it. I wish them the very best in the future.’
As for her critics she said: ‘Nobody likes to hear things that they know aren’t true and things have been said but look it’s democracy and people are entitled to their opinion and I think I don’t have a political history but I will prove myself and I hope that work ethic will prove me the right way for the people of Wexford. They won’t be disappointed.’