By Robert Tuomey
Susan O’Keeffe, the North West Labour candidate for the European Parliament elections, was out in the rain to meet the people of Castlebar in Co Mayo on Friday 8 May. She arrived in style in a trio of 09 Ford Galaxy Labour Party canvassing cars and was accompanied by Labour Party Leader Eamon Gilmore and local election Labour party candidates Harry Barrett and Bernie Courtney.
Susan said that she believes that what Declan Ganley of Libertas is saying with regard to Lisbon sounds like a NO to Europe and that Labour's YES to Europe is a "NO Brainer". She said "Ireland cannot afford to isolate itself from Europe" and that "it is Vital for Ireland to stay in Europe and be a busy, active part of it." Susan O‘Keeffe said that she would be saying to Declan Ganley that "to encourage people away from Europe is a very bad thing indeed".
When asked why the young people of the North West should vote for Susan O’Keeffe she replied by saying that she is a "fresh face", who has given up her job to go into politics. She said that she "doesn’t have her hands in anybody’s pockets and that nobody has their hands in hers." She has never been "in a Galway tent taking money from anybody and she never will be". Susan, obviously not a fan of the horse racing, went on to say that we need more women in politics since women make up 51% of the country, and encouraged young people to come out and vote.
Susan finished by saying that if you are new to politics, to vote for a fresh face with a fresh voice who is not just spouting political speech and is able to push for things and ask difficult questions in Europe.
The Labour Party crew got back into their decorated vehicles and moved on to meet and greet the locals of Westport and to open the local Labour Party campaign office on James St.
