GENERAL ELECTION: 'I don't stand by Brian Stanley, none of the core candidates did' - Laois Sinn Féin candidate

Portlaoise mother of two, Maria McCormack is contesting her first General Election for Sinn Féin in Laois, quite unexpectedly due to Brian Stanley's shock resignation from the party.

Having run in her first local election unsuccessfully last June, she told the Leinster Express / Laois Live what the reaction is to her on the doorsteps.

“From the length and breadth of the constituency, no-one is happy. From housing to healthcare, disability, cost of living, education places, services, farmers, rural communities; nobody is happy. Everyone is looking for change.

“The two main topics are housing and healthcare, inclusive of disabilities. They're 70% of the time coming up on the doors.

“I feel Sinn Féin's new policies are in a position to change this. Their housing policy is to extend the eviction ban, and put the largest investment ever into building social houses. There is a constant waste of money in the Government, like the overrun in the children's hospital.

“There's a big focus on lack of services in Laois. Not enough special education places. No dental service, to get an OT or speech therapist, even to get any assessment for any child. They're just totally left behind.

“The healthcare plan Sinn Féin have will transform the system, to get rid of the two tiers of public and private,” she said.

Ms McCormack describes what she could bring if elected as a TD for Laois.

“Being a female, there has never been a female TD in Laois, I don't know how we are at this stage in 2024. I really think it's important that a female gets to represent the mothers of Laois and have a voice.

“I'm a mother of two children in the community, it's lived experience that I have. I have a child with Autism so I understand the different battles that parents have to go through. I know how children with special needs are treated like second class citizens here.

“I've always been involved with the community from my healthcare profession as a pharmacy technician and a healthcare assistant out in the community.

“Then in my community activism, from volunteering with Laois Civil Defence, Portlaoise Action to Homelessness, the new Community First Responders group, Women's Shed. I'm on the ground and I'm accessible, and I'm willing to be held accountable.

“It's not that I'm going to keep coming back, the same narrative, knocking on people's doors in five years again promising the same things over. I will be accountable to people. I will be a voice in the Dáil, a champion for carers, for disabilities.

See full list of Laois General Election candidates by clicking below photograph.

“I will be accessible and listen to people. I feel Sinn Féin is the only alternative party that has all the costings ready to go. I have the backing of that big party behind me to bring the change that the people in Laois want,” Ms McCormack said.

She claims that despite the prominent resignations from Sinn Féin of Cllr Aidan Mullins and Deputy Brian Stanley, membership in Laois has actually increased.

“Four new memberships actually came in yesterday. Membership is increasing every week. People are coming out to campaign, Sinn Féin are definitely getting more support than we had been. We have more members in Laois than we had for 20 years so we are in a really good position.

“Aidan Mullins has always been fully supportive, he had his own reasons for leaving but he helps in the background with my campaign.

“Overall morale is great, I have support, a massive team effort and great energy. Yes it's been a big change but you have to be resilient. My focus is to retain the Sinn Féin seat in Laois that has been there and been fought for by so many for so long.

“I don't stand by Brian Stanley, none of the core candidates stood with him.

“He definitely will get votes. I'm under no illusion that this is a massive challenge but there's a lot of strong candidates. But what voice can an independent really have?”

She said rural transport is a “massive” issue.

“It's like we're back in the stone age. When I was in Mountrath last week they were talking about one bus a certain time of the day. For people that don't drive it's absolutely appalling. There's big investment Sinn Féin wants to put in to community buses.

“It was interesting at the IFA meeting with the farmers, our rural and small farmers are the backbone of the community. Derogation was a massive issue.

“Sinn Féin fully supports that we try keep the nitrates derogation there as long as possible. When it comes to water pollution, farmers are being scapegoated and blamed for a lot of climate issues. It's really important for me if elected to be on the ground with people like Henry from the IFA and giving them a voice and be involved in decisions.

“It was a similar narrative as at the special needs meeting in Portlaoise. Farmers feel blamed when we need a whole new Teagasc review. There seems to be money spent in the wrong areas when farmers are trying their best. Small farmers fear they will not be able to hand the farm to future generations.”

In business support, Ms McCormack says Sinn Féin's healthcare improvements would create more jobs.

On emigration in Ireland, she said it is ”in crisis”.

“We need stricter controls on our border. The system is broken. Two thirds of people who apply for asylum are refused but it takes 13 months for deportation and they're not followed through. It's not acceptable.

“Genuine refugees of course we want to support them but that they are not placed in areas that cannot support them like Portarlington.”

Speaking to Laois voters, she said “we're getting a really good reaction, I'm almost afraid to say it. There's a positive reaction, I suppose people want a woman. You never know. I didn't expect to step up this quickly but it's massive experience and an opportunity,” she said.

See next Tuesday's Leinster Express newspaper for a 20 page election preview special with interviews of all 12 candidates. The election will take place on Friday, November 29.