DR. LIAM TWOMEY CONVENTION SPEECH 16 Dec 2010

Let me start off by saying that I learn from my mistakes.
I was naive about the last election, politically, I made mistakes.
Before the last election, I travelled the whole country getting everyone else elected, but forgot about the words of Tip O’Neill, the famous Irish American congressman who said ‘All politics is local’.
That is one mistake I will not be repeating this time.

There is a perception that I can be shy, soft spoken, and not aggressive enough. Do not interpret this as a weakness. I have seen people die in front of me, that gives me the steely resolve I need as a doctor, it is also what this country and this campaign needs. This time we will have a good campaign.

I am committed to what Fine Gael stands for:
Decency, Honesty and a commitment to Public Service.

What about our friend Brian Lenihan?
1. In September 2008, he said,
The bank bail out was going to be the cheapest bailout in the history of the state.
Over 50 million down a black hole later was not the cheapest option.
2. Even by January 2009, he was saying,
Bailing out Anglo Bank Irish would only cost 4.5 Billion.
So far, we have spent 30 Billion on Anglo and the meter is still running.
3. On budget day last year,
The last sentence in his budget speech was
‘We have turned the corner’.
We have turned the corner alright;
We ran straight into a cement mixer with the registration plates, IMF 2011
4. As we all know in November of this year, according to the two nodding donkeys, Dempsey and Ahern, the IMF coming into Ireland was fiction.
In this month the IMF arrived.

Whether it is Brian Cowen or Brian Lenihan, when they speak, they no longer inspire confidence, in anyone who has to pay a mortgage,
they do not inspire confidence for the future, they make me worry about my children’s future.

This government has exported, DELL Computers to Poland, The Sugar Beet industry to Europe, Our Sovereignty to Germany.
De Valera, the poster boy for Fianna Fail once stated
‘Never again will we export our children like live exports’

How Fianna Fail has failed us: Our young carpenters, electricians, nurses, teachers, all our most valuable commodities, are destined, because of this government’s failure, for export again.
It is now our responsibility and our duty to turn this tide.

Now some people say, Liam Twomey, he is a national politician.
I know my way around the Department of Finance, the Department of Health, and the HSE, like I know my own home.
I have spoken to Olli Relin from the EU commission and to Ajai Cropra from the IMF about this useless government.

I know, what it is to be local,
it is about jobs,
it is about getting money to fix our roads;
it is about stopping the downgrade of our hospital.
It is about giving ourselves and our children a chance.
I will not be Mighty Mouse in Wexford and Mickey Mouse in Dublin.

I am close to the leadership of this party. I have been health spokesperson. I am the Seanad Finance spokesperson. I want to be in government and I want to deliver for Co Wexford and work for this great country of ours.
That decision is now yours:
You can back me or sack me.
You have to decide.
Who is going to represent you in the next government,
I have what it takes.
I will deliver for this county and this country.

I want your vote,
I want your support,
And I want to be in the next government.

Thank You.