Laois Fine Gael voters more loyal to Flanangans than supporters of President Putin and Fidel Castro

Outgoing Fine Gael Charlie Flanagan threw his support behind Cllr Willie Aird in a speech at Laois General Election Convention where he spoke of his pride in a political career that is nearing its conclusion.

Speaking toward the end of the Fine Gael Convention in Portlaoise, he thanked Laois members for the support they have given to him over many years in politics. He nevertheless reminded them that there would be a job of work for them to do during the General Election which he said he expects to take place before Christmas.

He reflected throughout his speech on his career in politics while also reminding Fine Gael members that a new campaign has to be found for their new representative.

“I had an enjoyable and fulfilling career. Secondly, I felt that the time was right to pass on the baton to a new face in Laois. That face has emerged in the guise of my old friend Willie Aird. I served on Laois County with him for 17 years and he was on the council before me. He thought me a thing or two and we served well together. He supported me on my endeavours over the years and I am pledging my support for Willie,” he said.

Given the uncertainty about the timing of an election, he said Fine Gael should not “wait for the whistle to blow”.
He reminded the Convention that it behoves members from right around the county to campaign but added that “elections are never easy”.

He said FG's bid for a fourth term in Government was “unprecedented” and would not be easily achieved. But he insisted that the members were the “standard bearers and the vanguard”. He told the the packed room that they charged with the responsibility of getting up to 9,5000 votes for Cllr Aird. 

The former Minister praised Cllr Conor Bergin's for emphasising “unity of purpose”  when announcing his withdrawl from the nomination race. The outgoing TD reassured Cllr Bergin about the future. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Picture: Charlie Flanagan, Larry Ryan, Paddy Delaney and John Fitzgerald at the Convention. Pic: Denis Byrne

“I thank Conor for his noble gesture and I wish him well for the future. Nobody knows better than me that politics is a long game and Conor Bergin and Willie Aird knows that,” he said.

Dep Flanagan displayed FG membership card to members which he said stated he joinded the party on January 1 1973 with the subscription costing 25p. He recalled the man who signed him in was Nicholas Brennan who worked in the accounts department of a Mountmellick abattoir and who in his spare time worked for Fine Gael. He said Mr Brennan's voluntary efforts were in line with FG's principles.

The Mountmellick native said he was very humbled by the votes he had received over the years.

“There are people who had never voted for anyone else in their lives only a Flanagan - myself or my father. I see elderly people going through their whole lives saying they never voted for anyone else. People like President Putin or Fidel Castro would be very proud of that type of loyalty. They don't get that but I got it here in Laois. It placed a burden on my shoulders but it gave me great satisfaction to do my work here in Dublin in the knowledge that I had the trust and support of the people here,” he said. More below picture.

Dep Flanagan said his career had errors.

“I made mistakes in politics - mistakes that were career-threatening. Because of the Fianna Fáil monopoly over the years I look back on my career and see that I spent most of my political life in opposition.

“Yet, in spite of that, I managed to be favoured highly be party leaders particularly Enda Kenny and Leo Varadkar who appointed me to Cabinet to serve as Minister for Just and Minister for Foreign Affairs in spite of having made a few mistakes along the way.

“I am proud of my record national and what I achieved in Ministerial office but I would not have done so without the help and support that I received here in Laois,” he said.

He added that he was also proud of his work locally. He instanced the opening of the Canadian Greenfield Global plant in Portlaoise and the Leprino mozzarella cheese factory also in the county town.

He said much has changed in the county.

“When I was first elected the county town of Portlaoise had a population of 10,000. Now there are at least 25,000 and there will be more by the next Census,” he said.

Dep Flanagan said the response to change will require more jobs and services which means work will have to be intensified by Cllr Aird in the Dáil but he had confidence in the Portlaoise area county councillor.

“Willie is a worker, he is on the ground and does have his finger on the pulse. He looks forward to working with you and for you over his time in Dáil Éireann.

He concluded by thanking his family and in particular his wife Mary for sustenance and often confidence he needed when things were not 'rosy' for him in politics.

He added that he was blessed to have staff like Rosemary Whelan and Rose Williams as well as Conor Sweeney.