'Straight talker' Cllr O'Brien hits the campaign trail
Cllr Deirdre O’Brien has been out on the canvass trail over the last number of weeks and, as a councillor for over eight years, says that she is the candidate that people deserve - a ‘straight talker’ who is passionate and always one for the truth: “Don’t tell me what I want to hear, tell me the truth!”
Co-opted to Cork County Council when her brother Kevin O’Keeffe was elected as a TD in the 2016 General Election, she was elected by the public when she ran in the last local elections in 2019. From a young age, politics was a 365-day-a-year job in the O’Keeffe household as her father, Ned, was a former TD and her mother, Anna, was in the community, a politician in her own way.
“Life experiences and I have plenty, sets you up for politics. It’s about being able to relate to people on every issue and circumstance and provide the information or advise when required,” she says.
HEALTHCARE
“The big issues being faced are our strained health service, where people are unable to access GPs, SouthDoc have reduced hours, we have a poor ambulance service and difficulty getting medical cards for long term illnesses. I have been raising all these issues at our council meetings and I was involved in organising the protests and petitions against the SouthDoc reduced service. Furthermore, the lack of supports in our disability services and early intervention diagnosis for children is a huge anxiety for parents having to fight to be heard”.
The Ballindangan native says there has been ‘a lot of reaction’ to her recent council motion on ‘rightsizing’.
“Many out there want to downsize, whose current home is too large and their bills and maintenance costs excessive. I have always been advocating for the building of one and two-bed houses and the council needs to provide more sheltered housing for the aged and free up larger properties for families. On top of this, there are so many vacant houses in our towns and villages, and we need to do more”.
ROADS
Roads are always on the agenda, says Cllr O’Brien, but never moreso than now.
“Cork county needs to get the funding allocation it is entitled to from the Government for road improvements and drainage. I drive the roads and I can see the state of them. Our cars are being damaged and we are frustrated”.
“I will be non stop canvassing for the next few weeks and I hope to meet as many people as possible. I am always available by phone, email or via social media if anyone needs to get in contact with me”.
LAUNCH NIGHT
Cllr O’Brien will be holding her campaign launch in The Firgrove Hotel, Mitchelstown next Tuesday, 7th May at 7.30pm, where she is delighted to have John McGuinness, TD for Carlow/Kilkenny, set to attend.
“Deputy McGuinness, a former Minister of State and Chair of the Public Accounts Committee, is a politician who puts his life and soul into politics and believes that all politics is local. Community is important and what he learns from the people informs him enormously as a legislator”.
Everyone is welcome on the night, where refreshments and music will be provided.
“Thank you to all who have supported me to date and I again ask you for your No.1 vote on June 7th to allow me continue working for you”.