Prendergast says she’s ‘good value’ for seat

LABOUR MEP Phil Prendergast has said she believed the party was getting a disproportionate share of the blame for the current financial crisis in Ireland.

Speaking to the Corkman ahead of polling day on May 23, Ms Prendergast insisted she was “good value” for her European seat and if reelected would work hard to further Ireland's interests in Brussels.

However, she did admit the party was coming under increasing pressure on the doorsteps, with the issues of water charges, medical cards and mounting bills coming up time and time again.

“People are deeply upset because there are so many costs coming out of their budgets. They seem to clear one bill and another one comes through the door,” she said.

“The medical cards issue in particular seems like an inhumane attitude to numbers on a page where a certain figure has to be reached. What needs to be taken into account is that cuts to services are depriving people of something they already had. Of course that is going to upset people.”

Ms Prendergast insisted Europe was an important battle ground for Ireland, but recognised many people felt disconnected from the EU.

“It is hard to sell the European message because there is huge disconnect. People tend to think about their day to day lives with decision boiling down to can I buy a new pair of shoes or can I pay the ESB bill. These are the kinds of choices people have to make,” she said.

“That said, I do believe we have our own identity and people are outraged at the very notion that people from Europe can oversee our budgets and tell us to cut here and cut there. The bottom line is that we need strong leadership in Europe and if re-elected I will continue to provide that,” she added.

Ms Prendergast said she stood over her call on Eamon Gilmore to stand down as Labour leader.

“There is bound to be an element of disconnection when the party leader is unavailable for street canvasses. This is not personal. He is doing an excellent job, but it is out of the sight of the people. There is a perception problem and people see Eamon more as an abstract leader,” said Ms Prendergast.

“Overall there has been a poor communication of all the good that Labour has done in power. We got 19% of the vote in 2011 but are getting 100% of the blame for the current difficulties. I think there huge perception problem and part of that is down to the party leadership,” she added.