This article is from page 3 of the 2007-05-29 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 3 JPG
EXPERIENCE has made way for youth, with two Clare young guns securing positions on the national political stage.
Fianna Fail’s Timmy Dooley, at 38 and Fine Gael’s Joe Carey, 31, were among the youngest TDs elected in last week’s general election.
Former poll topper James Breen (Ind) and veteran politician Sena- tor Brendan Daly (FF) were forced to reconsider their political futures,
having been defeated in the final ODEN aE
In contrast, the two young guns are anticipating their progression to the DEE
Deputy Dooley, who has spent the past five years in the Seanad, said he felt young people showed a great interest in politics in the run-up to the election and this translated into votes.
“Clare will be well represented in the younger stakes. We have to look at demographics in the county.
Joe and I will be able to look after a young County Clare. No doubt we both benefited from the young vote,” he said.
Fine Gael’s newest TD in Clare, Joe Carey 1s not going to be overawed by the presence of older, more experi- enced members of the Dail.
“Tis a young man’s or woman’s game now. I will bring a new energy, enthusiasm and vigour as anew TD,” he said.
He said he will be sad to vacate his seat on Clare County Council, after
eight years.
“T have great friends in the council. I got great support from councillors in the chamber. I will be sad to let it go, but I have progressed politically,” he said.
Mr Dooley believes that Clare is in with a healthy chance of getting a senior ministerial post, despite not securing a third Fianna Fail seat in the county.
“We haven’t the three but Tony Killeen has done a very good job in the Department of Labour. It would
be no harm to freshen up the Cabi- net with someone like Tony. We need somebody in the mid-west to west.
“It was disappointing we didn’t take the third (seat), but you’ve got to take ability into account too,” he said. Speaking shortly after his elec- tion on Friday, his party colleague Tony Killeen said, “Our situation in the county would be a lot better ob- viously if we had three candidates. I think the judgement made nationally about the performance of Fianna Fail in Clare won’t be positive.”