Ahead of the 2011 election, there was bold talk of a different kind of politics. Entering the Dáil with the sole objective of bringing home the bacon for the local area was out of fashion.
This talk reached its apogee when Mick Wallace topped the poll in Wexford and informed RTE that in his pitch to constituents he promised that he would no make effort to fill in their potholes but was instead going to Leinster House to be a 'national politician'.
John Delaney's comments while out canvassing for Alan Kelly indicate he has no time for this airy bullshit. If you've a minister in your constituency, then you're far more likely to get stuff. It's as simple as that. This argument is most helpful to the cause of Minister Alan Kelly.
On Tipperary Mid-West Radio, Delaney spelled it out.
I think it's always important to have a minister irrespective of what party you represent, in your county, because ultimately people deliver.
A lot of people say to me 'Well you've done a lot for Tipperary town and St. Michael's football club and clubs around the country.' Well, you do that because of personal connections to the clubs. It's your job to do, but also because you are in a position to do it.
Another minister, Pascal Donohue said it's a person's own business if they wish to back a candidate in their 'own personal time'. But he did express wariness about someone using their public office to back a particular candidate.
It would be very, very important to me - and I would expect this to happen - that anybody who's leading up an organisation that's funded with taxpayers' money would not be out advocating for any political party.
I deal with the FAI and other sporting bodies very regularly, I’m confident that John or anyone else would not do that.
Joan Burton, whose party's candidates need all the help they can get, expressed no misgivings about Delaney's support for Kelly.
[Independent.ie]
