Surprise as O’Toole opts out of election

THERE was surprise on the Northside last week when Cllr Larry O’Toole, one of Sinn Féin’s top vote getters, ruled himself out of contesting the next general election.

The current Deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin conceded that his decision not to bid for a seat in the new constituency of Dublin Bay North would

“probably

? come as a surprise to his supporters.

Sinn Féin will be standing two candidates in the constituency – Cllr Mícheál Mac Donncha and Cllr Denise Mitchell.

Both represent the Beaumont-Donaghmede Local Electoral Area (LEA) on Dublin City Council and were selected at a party convention.

Cllr O’Toole (67) has contested five general elections, the first in 1992 in what was then the constituency of Dublin North East.

Many would have viewed Cllr O’Toole as a very good prospect to claim a seat this time around, especially given the party’s showing in various opinion polls over the last 12 months.

Also, Dublin Bay North is a five-seater and Cllr O’Toole narrowly missed out in Dublin North East in 2011 when just three seats were available.

Cllr O’Toole was first elected to Dublin City Council in 1999. In the 2004 Local Elections he secured almost 4,500 first preference votes – 33 per cent of the total cast in the Artane ward.

This was the second highest vote achieved by any candidate in the State.

Cllr O’Toole said he had been discussing his decision

“on and off

? with party headquarters since the last general election.

“I will be continuing to work (on Dublin City Council) with the thousands of constituents who have given me such great support over the years,

? he told Northside People.

“It is support that I will always be most grateful for.

“I came very close to being elected a TD in 2011 but unfortunately it was not to be. I was disappointed, but very pleased with the splendid vote I received.

“I do not regret one minute of it (contesting the general elections) and it was a privilege to help build up Sinn Féin and work with communities throughout this constituency.

“Now it’s time to move on and Cllrs Denise Mitchell and Mícheál Mac Donncha have my full confidence and support.

?

Cllr O’Toole said he was confident that his many supporters would automatically transfer their votes to the two other Sinn Féin candidates.

“In the last two local elections the transfer pattern between Sinn Féin candidates was excellent,

? he stated.

“I have no doubt that Cllr Denise Mitchell and Cllr Mícheál Mac Donncha will be well in the running to take two seats in Dublin Bay North.

?

Cllr O’Toole believes that if he had been elected a TD he would have given communities in his area a

“really effective and responsive

? local voice in the Dáil.

“As part of the Sinn Féin Dáil team I would have provided very effective opposition to austerity, putting real alternatives forward,

? he added.

“I will remain a very active city councillor and I look forward to working with two Sinn Féin TDs in Dublin Bay North.

?

Following his selection, Cllr Mac Donncha, who will be contesting his first general election, said the party was working for a

“historic breakthrough

?.

“We are out to end once and for all the two-and-a-half party system that has seen Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and Labour dominate in this constituency and throughout the State for decades,

? he told Northside People.

“Those days are over. We are standing two candidates to win two seats for Sinn Féin in Dublin Bay North.

“That way we can help ensure that the next Government in this State, for the first time ever, is not led by either Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil.

?

Cllr Mac Donncha added:

“Instead we can have a Government led by Sinn Féin with progressive policies based on fairness and equality.

?

Cllr Mitchell, who will also be contesting her first general election, said:

“I am proud to represent our communities in this constituency who have borne the worst of austerity and who are fighting back, as seen in the

campaign against the water charges.

“The housing crisis and the need to abolish water charges and reverse unemployment are the big issues that have to be confronted.

?

Cllr Mitchell added:

“In the next Dáil, people in Dublin Bay North need genuine community-based TDs, committed to real political change with a campaigning party that is determined to deliver for our communities in Government.

?