A long time campaigner for better rights for people with disabilities is to run as an independent candidate in the Galway West constituency in the General Election.
City businessman and father of two Eamon Walsh from Headford says his priorities include improving disability services, public sector reform and being a strong voice for small businesses.
The 43-year-old NUI Galway graduate who owns a computer and telephone system business called CommandIT, based at Briarhill Business Park, says he is committed to bringing a “fresh, new professional” approach to politics.
“Many people have encouraged me to enter politics to try to help fix some of the systems that are broken, both political and public. I will be standing on an agenda of health/disability, small business /job creation and political/public sector reform.”
He says people with disabilities and other vulnerable people have for far too long ended up being an easy target for budget cuts, inefficient practices and underinvestment.
“There is a fundamental problem when money is at the centre of decision making and not the person. There are many dedicated and hard-working people in the HSE, however our health services are in need of reform and rejuvenation and I believe that real efficiencies and service improvements can be achieved, however the political will needs to be there to do it and this has been lacking up to now.”
He claims there has never been a strong voice for small business in politics. “In the services sector 98 per cent of enterprises are small businesses. Small businesses are struggling; many of them are on their knees. They are crippled with taxes and high costs, especially rents and over-regulated which is particularly galling considering the ineffective regulation at the top.
“Many have closed and many more will go. They are stagnated and not contributing effectively to the economy. There is a shortage of working capital available to small business and many will fold without it, profitable or not. I believe that small business managers, like myself, are the best placed to find the solutions to these problems. I want to see Irish small businesses moved toward the centre of the strategy for economic recovery,” says Mr Walsh, who together with his business partner, employs five people at their company which was set up in 2003.
He believes people have become disillusioned with a political system which is more “self-serving” than “public-serving”.
“One could be forgiven for concluding that a great many of our politicians pursued their own self-interest rather than the interests of its citizens. We need to separate the affairs of state from those of commercial interests and banks.
“From the ground up, we must shake ourselves of the old ‘political favours’ mentality, using political influence to get a job in the civil service for Johnny or Mary, or secure planning permission using political pressure. If elected I will work tirelessly to bring about critical change
