“I am an Independent. I will be staying Independent, and my principles will not allow me to break my word and join any political party,” so says Galway City East councillor Declan McDonnell.
Cllr McDonnell was responding to speculation that he may join Fianna Fáil after the local elections on June 5. However the former PD is making it clear that he has no intention of joining any party and will be staying as an Independent politician.
“I certainly will not be joining any party and I will go as far as to say that if I was tempted to do that I would resign my seat rather than break my word,” he told the Galway Advertiser. “I will not be changing my mind.”
Many of the Independents in the election to City Hall are former members of the PDs, Sinn Féin, or Labour and the former PDs have been accused by other parties of being secret supporters of the Government who are only waiting for an excuse to join FF or Fine Gael.
“I was approached by Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil to join but I decided to go Independent,” he says.
However Cllr McDonnell says he has too many issues with current Government policy to contemplate such a move.
“If people read my election literature they will see that I am opposed to the Government’s plan to reduce the resource and special needs teachers for schools and that I believe the taking away of the Christmas bonus from people on social welfare is a scandal. Things like that will not make me change my mind. I’m staying Independent.”
Cllr McDonnell also feels that as an Independent he will be able to work with councillors from across the political divide and help achieve consensus to get results.
“No councillor can deliver projects for his area on his own,” he said. “I have always looked for consensus to solve issues and I will continue to do so as an Independent. My track record and my experience will show me supporting items cross-party, but I assure voters of the East Ward that I will be remaining an Independent for the remainder of my political career.”
Cllr McDonnell is also seen as one of the favourites to retain his seat in Galway City East although the Mervue man is taking nothing for granted.
“I need every vote I can get,” he says. “I do not believe I am as safe as the media is speculating. I would encourage everyone to look at my record over the last five years and support me on this occasion.”
