Obrien considers dil run

Cllr Michael O’Brien has said that he will consider running in the next general election.

“Every councillor aspires to be a TD and it is something I will consider in consultation with my campaign team,” said the Moate man.

“We need a TD that actually gives people a real voice, a voice free from strict party whips.

“I think the way the Dáil currently operates is nothing short of a joke. The strict party whip system totally paralyses TDs from voting in a way they would actually prefer. If an opposition party or an independent TD puts forward a good idea, it will be automatically shot down every time because the government parties will vote against it.

“This is not the work of a constructive parliament, it’s the work of a dictatorship, and we’ve been accepting it for far too long now.”

Cllr O’Brien said the present government parties promised Dáil reform but he thinks the only people who can bring it are the independents.

He pointed out that, at 30% in the polls, independents could have the power after the next general election to bring fairer politics to the working of the Dáil.

Shane Ross’s Independent Alliance is proposing a non-negotiable ‘set of principles’ that its members would have to agree on but they would be largely free in terms of how they can vote on legislation.

“I met with Shane Ross over the Christmas holidays and I have to say I found him to be a genuine guy and I was impressed with what he is proposing. It’s radical and different, and it gives representatives a chance to be themselves and not to be held back by a party whip,” said Cllr O’Brien.

“On running in the next general election, that is something I will have to discuss with my campaign team – many things have to be taken into consideration, but it’s not something I’ll be making a decision on just yet.

“The work of a councillor is more and more demanding now with fewer councillors and a bigger area to cover, so I will continue to work hard on behalf of my constituents in the Athlone Municipal District.”