Enda Kenny Welcomes Former FF Cllr Deirdre Forde to Fine Gael Party

The Fine Gael Leader formally welcomed former FF Councillor, Deirdre Forde, to the Fine Gael Party. Enda Kenny said that the decision by Cllr Forde to join Fine Gael from Fianna Fail was a symbolic move and a telling comment on how Fianna Fail are taking the country in the wrong direction and are making bad decisions that are unnecessarily hurting the wrong people.

“Deirdre is a very welcome addition to the Fine Gael ranks and I wish her all the best as she joins our local Government team on Cork County Council. When faced with the reality of a Government that wasn’t listening to the people and was making bad decisions that hurt the wrong people, Cllr Forde decided to make a change. She recognised the strength and focus of the Fine Gael team at both locally and nationally and decided that being part of that team was the best way for her to represent her electorate. I wish her well as she gets ready for the upcoming elections in June.”

Commenting on her decision to join Fine Gael, Councillor Forde said;

“Over the last number of months I have sensed that the current Government were moving in a direction that I was not happy with. The Budget in October was the first time that this really struck me when I saw the attempt to take the medical card off OAPs. Subsequent decisions on education supports for special needs children and the provision of cervical cancer vaccination for teenage girls confirmed for me that the wrong people were being asked to pay the price for a faltering economy.

“Having made numerous attempts to speak to senior Party figures about my concerns it became obvious to me that I was not going to be able to effect the type of change that both I, and others, would have liked to have seen.

“Once I arrived at this conclusion I had to make a decision on how best to represent the people that elected me and on how best to continue my commitment to politics and public life. I consulted with my family and my supporters and decided that the Fine Gael team on Cork Country Council, who I know well and respect, was the one I wanted to be involved with and that could best enable me represent the people that voted for me. Having made this decision I am now looking forward to meeting all my new colleagues – particularly Deputies Coveney and Clune and Senator Buttimer – and getting down to working on behalf of the people of Douglas and Carrigaline who put their faith in me four and a half years ago.”

Commenting on their new colleague, Fine Gael’s local Oireachtas members, Deputies Simon Coveney and Deirdre Clune and Senator Jerry Buttimer said;

“Deirdre Forde is an excellent candidate and a strong local representative. Her contribution in local politics and her work for the Carrigaline area is recognised by all who know her. We all look forward to Deirdre joining a very strong Fine Gael team on Cork County Council, and wish her well, as we get ready for the June elections.”