On Sunday December 5th 2010, Councillor Alan Farrell was selected along with TD, James Reilly to contest the next general election.
Below is his speech from the Fine Gael convention at Fingalians GAA, Swords.
I would like to thank my proposer and seconder for their kind words of support but more importantly, I would like to thank all of you for coming here today. As a public representative for almost seven years, I am honoured to have been nominated by the Skerries, Swords & Malahide branches of Fine Gael to stand at the next General Election.
While national politics is a big step up from local Government, I am supremely confident of being able to deliver what is required of me, when elected to Dail Eireann. I was elected in 2004 after a short campaign and I have worked very hard to ensure that the people of Malahide, Portmarnock and parts of Swords know me well. I have represented the Council at all levels through my positions as Leas Cathaoirleach, Mayor, Chairperson of the Fingal Joint Policing Committee, director of several tourism and enterprise generating companies and more recently, sitting on the board of the Drinan Enterprise Centre at Swords Business Park. A centre that has generated the creation of 90 jobs this year. I have also accepted a Taoiseachs Award on behalf of the council for excellence in public service, something for which I remain very proud.
Ireland faces an uncertain future. It has never been clearer to me that a time of great change is coming. We have been brought to the brink by the Fianna Fáil party and it is now essential that their pernicious influence be removed from our society. We have the opportunity not only to solidify our position in Dublin North but also to secure a second seat.
This is necessary not only for the party’s future but also for the future of our state. Our republic has been undermined and brought to near collapse by Fianna Fáil. We must now change our society from one where cronyism and who you know count to a meritocracy where honesty, integrity and hard work mean something.
My electors have responded to my hard work, so much so that I topped the poll in Malahide during the local elections and tripled my 2004 vote tally. I am confident that I can return a strong vote in this constituency.
This next election will be about highlighting to the electorate that not only can we deliver a stable economy but that we will work tirelessly to undo the economic turmoil inflicted upon us by this Fianna Fáil government. Let us not forget for one moment the role that the Green Party has played in this economic crisis. For 30 pieces of silver, the Greens in Government claim to have delivered their policies at the expense of the nation’s economic future.
Should you give me the nomination this afternoon I give you my word that those four words: honesty, integrity and hard work will be the cornerstone of my campaign and my term, if elected. We have to work together to achieve this change and I would ask that you consider getting involved in the campaign, even if it is for the first time. Your assistance is invaluable for this change to be effected.
We must be ambitious, we must aim high. We must show the electorate that we can be trusted.