Call for west Mayo voters to keep a TD in their area

WITH Michael Ring now retired from the Dáil, some of the deputy's bread and butter work is falling to local councillors.

Since the former TD's office in Westport closed, his Fine Gael party colleague Councillor Peter Flynn said he has been receiving calls about issues such as medical cards, passports, and waiting lists - matters 'outside our remit'.

With the general election just days away, it could be the first time since 1994 that there is a strong possibility that they would no longer have a TD in west Mayo, he told a municipal district meeting this week.

Wishing his council colleague Independent Ireland candidate Councillor Chris Maxwell well in Friday's poll and also local FG candidate Keira Keogh, he urged people to vote for the two candidates in whatever order they choose and keep a TD in the area, noting: “We are in dire need of it.”

Councillor Flynn also appealed to the women of Mayo to get behind the female candidates, saying we need balance in politics and we need the right people in the county to represent us.

He noted how there are seven male councillors in the Westport-Belmullet Municipal District, with just three women on the 30-strong full council.

One of the most formidable councillors in Westport over the years had been a woman, Margaret Adams, who he described as 'a powerhouse'.

Men could be held responsible for lots of things, he noted, 'but we do not dictate how we vote'.