Cllr O'Meara's General Election bid

Following on from Deputy Jackie Cahill announcement on Monday evening that he will not be contesting the upcoming General Election, the Fianna Fáil County Councillor for the Nenagh - Borrisokane - Lower Ormond area, Ryan O'Meara has announced his intention to seek the Fianna Fáil nomination in the North Tipperary / Northwest Kilkenny constituency.

Speaking after a meeting with a large group of supporters, Cllr Ryan O'Meara said: "I am delighted to put my name before the members of Fianna Fáil in North Tipperary / Northwest Kilkenny and ask them to nominate me to stand as our party's candidate in the upcoming General Election.

"I am very grateful to the large number of Fianna Fáil members right across North Tipperary and Northwest Kilkenny who have contacted me in the last 48 hours to ask me to stand for the Party in the General Election. I have given this careful consideration and have decided to let my name go before the upcoming selection convention.

"I believe that I can be a fresh, new voice in Dáil Éireann for the people of North Tipperary and Northwest Kilkenny. I believe it is time that my generation stood up and demanded the representation that we deserve at national level, to ensure our concerns in the areas of housing, health, cost of living, childcare, infrastructure and much, much more are heard and addressed. I believe that Fianna Fáil is the Party that is delivering and will deliver for this country and I want to be part of that team in the Dáil.

"Having regained a seat for Fianna Fáil in the Nenagh - Borrisokane - Lower Ormond area in last June's Local Elections, I believe that I am the candidate that our party should select to ensure that Fianna Fáil holds our seat in Dáil Éireann at the next election.

"I have worked closely with Deputy Cahill as his Parliamentary Assistant for over four years, and I know exactly what it takes to work as an effective TD. I am willing to take on the enormous duty of representing our area and working day and night on behalf of the people of this area.

"The registered members of Fianna Fáil in North Tipperary / Northwest Kilkenny will ultimately exercise their democratic right in selecting who leads our Party into the next General Election in this area, and over the coming days I will continue to convince fellow Party members that I should be that candidate."