Former Laois Minister expects a Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Brian ...

5 hours ago

Leinster Express

Former Laois Fianna Fail TD and Minister John Moloney expects Laois to return a TD from the two main parties along with Independent Republican candidate, Brian Stanley.

Speaking at the Nagle Rice Hall Count Centre in Portlaoise, Mr Moloney said he wouldn’t be in favour of an amalgamation of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.

“It appears that it is going to remain the same here. Going on canvassing for the last number of weeks it was very difficult to work out what the future was going to be. We were told regularly that there would be no change and the people on the ground have proved that and there is no change here,” he said.

“What I am surprised about is that I would have thought that the Independents, because there is so much push for the Independents, I would have thought that they would have done better and that hasn’t happened.

“Even though the issues are huge out there, the majority of the people of Laois have decided to support the two government TDs, Sean Fleming and Willie Aird, notwithstanding the fact that there are major issues to be resolved,” he said.

Mr Moloney believes Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael need to act swiftly to address the issues facing voters if they are returned to power.

“Government cannot wait a day after this because it has been told to them quite clearly that people have money in their pockets but the spending power is so poor, they cannot even provide for basics such as housing and that is going to have to be resolved.

There is talk now with people in the media suggesting that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael should amalgamate. I don’t buy into that but I do buy into this, that unless we show real ability to solve the national problems the left will gain every time and we have to take that message from the electorate,” he said.

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