The Workers’ Party candidate in the
Meath East by-election, Seamus McDonagh, has called the 27th March poll a referendum on a Government that has for
too long attempted to hide behind the abysmal record of past Fianna Fáil administrations.
Seamus McDonagh said: “This by-election
comes at a critical point in the history of our country. I am calling on the electors of Meath East to make this by-election
a referendum on the policies and decisions made by the Fine Gael/Labour coalition Government over the past two years.
“This Government must be called to
account for its actions since February 2011, and to stop hiding behind the abysmal record of past Fianna Fail administrations.”
Seamus McDonagh is currently the chairman
of the North Meath Campaign Against the Household and Water Taxes (CAHWT).
He said: “I have never been afraid
to directly confront what I believe are unfair laws and taxes that have been forced on the people by a golden circle of business
interests and connected families. They have run our country for their benefit and our loss for far too long.
“I have two daughters and three grandchildren,
all of whom live in Meath. For their sakes, and that of our local communities, I want action to cut the massive mortgage debts
that families are struggling under just because they need a home to live in. If the billionaires can have debts written down
or taken over by the State so can workers so that our economy can grow again.
“I also believe we need to
get tough on white collar criminals who destroy our children’s futures with their dodgy dealings – it is time
for corrupt bankers and politicians to do jail time, so that those who would repeat their activities might think again.”
Seamus is a native of Wilkinstown
and lives in Kells. As a teenager he was forced to leave his native county and move to England to find work. In Birmingham
he began working with the Irish community providing employment rights advice to his fellow building workers.
Returning to Ireland in the late 1970s
Seamus became active in campaigns demanding a fair deal for PAYE workers, for the public ownership of Ireland’s natural
resources and against discrimination. During the 1980s and 1990s Seamus was prominent in campaigns in Meath against proposed
water charges.
Issued 5th March 2013