Barry Cowen Selected As General Election Candidate For Fianna Fáil

By Justin Kelly

Barry Cowen has been selected as a General Election candidate following a Fianna Fáil party convention at the Tullamore Court Hotel this evening. The convention was attended by over 250 party members, and was chaired by Cork-North Central TD and Fianna Fáil Spokesperson for Health Billy Kelleher.

Speaking following his selection Deputy Cowen said: “I am honoured to be chosen once again to represent Fianna Fáil in Offaly for the forthcoming General Election. Fianna Fáil has a proud tradition in Offaly and I look forward to mounting an energetic campaign over the coming months to bring our message to every corner of the county.”

Barry Cowen is the brother of former Taoiseach Brian Cowen and was first elected a TD in the 2011 General Election. He served as the party spokesperson for Social Protection from April 2011 until the summer of 2012 when he was appointed spokesperson for the Environment and Local Government. He continues in that role within the party and the Clara native and former County Councillor will be hopeful of retaining his seat at the next General Election due to be called next year.

“This election will be of fundamental importance to the people of Offaly. Since coming to office the current government has abandoned rural Ireland. It has overseen significant cutbacks to supports that were put in place down through the years to promote growth across Ireland,” Cowen added on Wednesday evening.

“Towns and villages in Offaly are continuing to struggle. Ministers are increasingly clapping themselves on the back for bringing about an economic recovery that people simply are not experiencing in their daily lives. At the same time the government is overseeing the closure of local Garda stations, post offices and other vital community services.”

“Fine Gael and Labour have no plan for the present and no vision for the future. All they are interested in is being returned to government so they can continue with their regressive policy agenda that targets the most vulnerable in our society.”

“We have published a wide range of policy proposals to deal with issues such as mortgage arrears, the promotion of growth in areas such as Offaly and to bring about meaningful political reform.

 Over the coming months Fianna Fáil will be unveiling a comprehensive manifesto that sets out in further detail our vision for a fairer Ireland.”

Deputy Cowen also paid tribute to his competitors in tonight's convention. He commented, “I would also like to pay tribute to Councillor Eddie Fitzpatrick and Councillor Peter Ormond. They have been working hard in the community for many years. I look forward to working with them over the coming months to return an Offaly Fianna Fáil TD to Dáil Éireann”.