Wicklow Sinn Féin TD John was unanimously selected last night to contest the next general election for Sinn Féin in the Wicklow constituency. The large attendance at the convention evidenced the hunger and enthusiasm of Sinn Féin members and supporters for the upcoming election.
John previously served as a Councillor, both on Bray Town Council, and on Wicklow County Council. He was first elected in 2004 and was first elected as a TD in 2016.
Following the convention Brady said:
“I am very humbled and honoured to accept my party’s nomination to contest the next general election.
There is no greater honour for me than to represent the people of Wicklow. And to be asked to put myself forward for election again is both humbling and inspiring.
I was first elected to Bray Town Council twenty years ago this year in 2004. In the years since, we have witnessed a lot of change, with crises and challenges emerging that we could never have envisaged back then.
My motivation then, and now, and at all times has been to serve my community, the people of Wicklow.
Housing is the number one issue affecting people across the state, and here in Wicklow we face the highest house prices and rent prices in the state outside of Dublin.
A whole generation has been locked out of home ownership.
My party is committed to resolving this crisis. We have just launched our ‘Affordable Homes Plan’, which will bring home ownership back into reach for working people. It will also deliver affordable homes to rent.
Our public transport system here in Wicklow has been grossly neglected by this government, the lack of ambition displayed towards our county in the Strategic Rail Review, which plans to spend €37 billion across the state, but states that the solutions required to put in place a first-class rail service in Wicklow are in the words of the report ‘unlikely to be justifiable’.
This coupled with badly needed road upgrades being prevented by a Green Party Ministered driven by ideological motivations to punish road users clearly illustrates contempt for commuters in Wicklow.
We need to see upgrades to the N81, and the N11. We need to see an extension of the LUAS and DART services in the county. We also need to see increased capacity and frequency on the main Rail service. The current situation from Wicklow Town up, where commuters struggle for access to the train in the morning where there is standing room only needs to end.
Across Wicklow communities are struggling with basic services, and this is nowhere more evident than in the health service. The lack of access to Dental and GP services is chronic. Many people cannot get registered with a GP, and in many instances those that are, are forced to wait several weeks for an appointment.
The failure of the government and the department of Education to plan for the population growth in the county has led to an annual fear fest for pupils and their families, who often have to wait months to confirm acceptance in a secondary school due to overcrowding. We will end overcrowding and make education affordable for families.
The reality is that this government has been a failure. It has failed the people of Wicklow, and it has failed workers and families across the state.
I believe that I and my party Sinn Féin have the potential to deliver the change that is needed to bring about a transformation in Irish society.
We want to place people and communities first. And while we have been very successful in pushing the government on many key issues as the main opposition party, it is only as a party of government that we can deliver the lasting and meaningful change that can transform people’s lives.
We have the potential to solve the housing crisis, to reform the health service and to reinvigorate our neglected public transport system and roads infrastructure.
There is a lot of fear, anger, and frustration out there at the minute. A lot of communities have been marginalised and feel that their worries are not being listened to.
I am out on the doors regularly meeting with voters and listening to their concerns. I am hearing what people are saying.
The next general election is critical. Voters are faced with the choice of whether they want more of the same from the two parties who have effectively ruled the state since its formation, or whether they want change. The type of change that will place the needs of communities first.
