Mayo FF director of elections explains decision to stick with two-candidate strategy

The Mayo Fianna Fáil director of elections, Michael Smyth, has confirmed he has completed negotiations on a divide between candidates, Lisa Chambers and Dara Calleary, Minister of State, 'which reflects the party’s intention to deliver two seats in the upcoming general election'.

In a statement, he outlined: "We have taken a sober view of the challenge that faces us and know that we cannot afford to be over-exuberant or arrogant about our relationship with the electorate in Mayo.

"Fianna Fáil is a party of government, and we want our candidates at the heart of the decision-making process; we want to live up to the commitments we have given in our manifesto, they are measured and appropriate and they reflect Fianna Fail’s core values.

"I think it is important that we remind our electorate about some of those core values:

“To develop the resources and wealth of Ireland to their full potential, while making them subservient to the needs and welfare of all the people of Ireland, so as to provide the maximum sustainable employment, based on fostering a spirit of enterprise and self-reliance and on social partnership.”

“To protect the natural environment and heritage of Ireland and to ensure a balance between town and between the regions, and to maintain as many families as practicable on the land.

"It is easy to be swept away by the thought of new candidates with lots of lofty ideals, but no experience, with lists of well-meaning intentions, without fiscal fortitude or the advocacy skills and ability to build rapport within government, with populist promises that serve no social core value other than self-serving interests.

"We have decided to keep faith with two candidates who have given their lives to the service of our community and our country.

"They are steady hands who will seek to steer a course in government that will build on our housing commitments that have seen delivery of family homes in nearly every town in Mayo; improving our road infrastructure and services in particular waste water resources to allow expansion of housing in our towns; enhance and expand our local tourism offering by enhancing supports for local businesses and by delivering on our commitments to the development of Knock Airport SDZ; increasing pension benefits for our older people; incentivizing farmers to plan for a new generation of young farmers by introducing a new farm retirement scheme and making more land available for rent; creating new health hubs in Mayo that will take the pressure off our acute hospital and moving non-essential services and care closer to our communities.

"Our party and our candidates know only too well that we will be judged on our actions, and we acknowledge that more is needed in some areas of our communities and both Dara and Lisa are wholeheartedly committed to changing the things that impact your life and your family for the better.

"Fianna Fáil is 'the Republican Party' and all of our supporters can identify with our core value “to secure in peace and agreement the unity of Ireland and its people.

"Change is a word that will be echoed on the airwaves and doorsteps of Mayo over the next two weeks.

"We know that Fianna Fáil supporters have lent their votes to others in the past at a time of frustration and discontent.

"We are now asking you to consider us again and reignite our shared ethos and core values. We ask you to come on board and help us to deliver on our campaign promises.

"Our Fianna Fáil candidates, Lisa and Dara, will be engaging with you on your views and opinions on the doorsteps.

"We are listening to you, and we feel that our core values very much align with yours, we as a party are constantly evolving and embracing new ideas and change, but what we are acutely aware of is that we all want change for the better."