Senator Ivana Bacik to seek Labour nomination for Dublin Central By-Election
Issued : Friday 1 May, 2009
Today Senator Ivana Bacik announced that she would be seeking the Labour Party nomination for the Dublin Central by-election.
“After speaking with a number of colleagues from the Labour Party and the Dublin Central constituency recently I’ve decided to put my name forward for the nomination to contest the by-election for the Party.
“These are critical times for the future of the country. Over the last number of weeks I’ve been canvassing with local Labour candidates in Dublin and the desire among voters for a real alternative to this clapped out, weary Government is remarkable. Labour has been to the fore in proposing a credible alternative way out of our current economic and social turmoil and our message has a real resonance with the public. In these times it is vital that Labour takes the lead so that values of community, decency and fair play have a central role in the leadership of the country and I hope I can play a role in that process.
“Perhaps more so than any other constituency Dublin Central has paid the price for the cronyism and incompetence of Fianna Fáil during the boom years. In the past decade the resources existed to once and for all tackle the scandal urban decay, entrenched poverty and illiteracy yet that opportunity was squandered. Opportunities to support families by creating a national pre-school system and to support young people by giving them the educational facilities they deserve were wasted. Perhaps, most importantly, Fianna Fáil never tackled the speculators and developers that grew rich, with the result that thousands of people now find themselves trapped in negative equity, and struggling to meet childcare and mortgage payments.
“Over the coming days I will be speaking to the members in Dublin Central to win their support at a convention and get cracking on taking the fight to the Government. I firmly believe that voters will send a clear message to the Government about the need for a change in leadership and that Labour, whoever the local members choose, can win this by election. I would be honoured to contest it for the Party.”
