Following his run in Galway West at last month's General Election, the Social Democrats' Niall Ó Tuathail has been nominated to run for the upcoming Seanad elections.
In February, Mr Ó Tuathail took 3,623 first preference votes (six per cent ), and lasted until the 11th count, accumulating a total of 6,403. "This nomination would not have happened without the amazing campaign team I had and the people of Galway getting behind me in the election," he said. " I’m really looking forward to getting stuck in and showing people what I can do.”
The Shantalla resident will contest the Industrial and Commercial panel. The electorate is every councillor, TD and outgoing Senator in the State. Mr Ó Tuathail said his campaign will focus on reforming and improving the HSE; to advocate for young people "who have a raw deal with the cost of housing and living"; to improve Galway's bus system and cycling infrastructure; and to reform Seanad Éireann.
“People voted in 2013 to keep the Seanad, but reform it," he said. "That call has been ignored since then but I will be pushing the Seanad Reform bill that will open the Seanad election to every citizen."