Independent candidate Pauline Flanagan eyes the "longer game"

Independent candidate Pauline Flanagan has said she is looking at “the longer game” as it looked unlikely she will secure a seat in the General Election in Laois. 

“As expected. It looks like Willie(Fine Gael candidate Willie Aird), I am delighted for him, it is well deserved it shows how well got he is within Co Laois. And also Sean(Fleming Fianna Fáil) and to Brian(Stanley Independent), who look like they will make it,” she said while acknowledging a strong performance by Sinn Fein. 

“I am able to hold my head up high. There was 12 candidates and only three seats and I always knew, it was very much why am I doing this. I am thinking of a longer game to be honest and even though I wouldn’t have said it beforehand but I do know, I accepted beforehand that I wasn’t in with much of a chance, “ Ms Flanagan said at the Nagle Rice Count Centre in Portlaoise this afternoon. 

Tallies indicate that the SETU lecturer secured 1.68% of the vote in a busy field of 12 candidates for the three Laois Dáil seats.    

“I do worry about those that won’t be able to hurt themselves and I just feel that, no disrespect against men, but the amount mothers out there, and fathers, but it is the mothers that are doing the worrying, the mothers that are doing the emailing and worrying about disabilities, about special needs and carers.

“I just would love if I got in because I know I would have been a strong capable woman to be able to care for them. I genuinely worry about them and I would just love to have the power to empower those who are looking for help but they don’t realise they have the power to help themselves. I’m sorry, but I have never ever heard a male speak like that and that is what I would be worried about,” Ms Flanagan said.  

“Honestly, my key takeaway are the fantastic team that helped me. Even my fantastic students that got behind me and the energy and enthusiasm and support is something else. Also, my key takeaway is the genuine concern I have for those in the special needs area, the carers area and with disabilities. I am very, very concerned about those people. 

I am never going to make the mistake I made before and say, never, ever again. I know age isn’t on my side but I will continue to be a thorn, especially in the elected representatives side because those people need support and if somebody else doesn't fight for them by god I will certainly pester those elected representatives to make sure they are represented,” she concluded.