McBrearty makes Labour Party Selection convention Speech
Issued : Friday 5 February, 2010
It is a great honour for my Family and I that the Labour Party has chosen me to contest the Donegal south west by election. I am also deeply honoured that Seamus Roger's nominated me and that Seamus Carbin seconded my nomination at grass roots level. I would like to give a special thank you to the following people, Seamus Carbin who asked me back a number years ago would I be interested in joining the party, sadly at that time I couldn't because of the commitments I had in our fight for justice in clearing my family's good name. Secondly I would like to thank Michael O Boyle for asking me to stand for the Labour Party in the local elections in June 2009, where both he and I knew after the first week from the reception we were getting on the doorsteps that I was going to be elected.
I have been asked by many people, why did I get involved in politics and my answer to them is because no one in this county helped us in our hour of need. My commitment to the people of Donegal is a simple one; when you come to me for help whether I can help you or not, I will fight for you as if you were a member of my own family.
As people know, a great injustice happened to my family at the hands of this government but thankfully our fight for justice was successfully achieved by My Father and I. With the help of Brendan Howlin TD and Jim Higgins MEP, we successfully exposed and highlighted the lack of accountability from this government led by Fianna Fail. The word accountability does not exist in Irish politics because of Fianna Fail and I intend to bring this back with the help of the Labour Party and my supporters.
I have proven since my election to Donegal County Council that I have put the injustice's committed against my family and I behind us. I have built up a good working relationship with a more accountable Gardai in Donegal since my election. It is with great satisfaction today that I can say on behalf of my family and I that we are not bitter and further more my election as the first Labour county councillor in the Finn valley area highlights the respect that my family have on the ground in Donegal.
We in the Labour party in Donegal and at national level are the alternative to Fianna Fail led governments and the Labour party will be accountable to the people, not like the current Government. Our party leader Eammon Gilmore is the best party leader in the country and it has never been a better time for the people to vote for change and a vote for Frank McBrearty Jnr is giving Dublin a message that the people of Donegal will no longer tolerate being ignored by a redundant government led by Fianna Fail. In 2 years time when there will be a general election If the labour Party is to have Eammon Gilmore elected as Taoiseach, then county's like Donegal need to vote for Labour candidates.
The people of Donegal voted no on Lisbon and I can't blame them. I believe the people voted No because they were giving the message that Donegal is the forgotten county. I make the promise to the people of Donegal, it will no longer be known as the forgotten county as long as I am a politician, whether it is in Dail Eireann or Donegal county Council.
If I am elected to Dail Eireann, I will highlight the needs of Donegal and the lack of infrastructure in the county. These are just some of the issues that I will fight to have resolved, Unemployment, Job retention, water, sewage, planning, unfinished housing estates, Healthcare, Education, Policing and extra personnel for the gardai, Home help, Special needs, rural transport, Roads to be brought up to 21st century standards, Tourism, Fishing, Farming industries and the injustice's that they have suffered at the hands of this government.
I have had a baptism of fire in my first 8 months as an elected member of Donegal County Council, but my experience in the fight to expose corruption over the last 13 years has well equipped me to stand up for the rights of the people of this county.
My commitment to the people of Donegal cannot be matched by any candidate or politician and no matter what political back ground they are from; it will not influence my desire to help them, if they wish to seek my help. It was reported by a journalist Connor McMorrow of the Sunday Tribune, whom I am very friendly with, that a Fianna Fail source in Donegal said "there are no George Lees in Donegal. Well there are no Frank McBrearty's in Dublin as yet. Finally, there are three things that I learned in my fight for justice against the Government, Unity within your family, Knowledge, and the pen and paper is mightier than the sword.
We have suffered Famine, Emigration, unemployment, poverty, corruption, Bankruptcy and the insult to the people of the country with the Bail out of the banks at the Taxpayers' expense. Who has the government not protected in this scandal, I will tell you who, the most vulnerable: the elderly, unemployed, lowest paid workers, disabled and children.
My political career was born out the injustices committed against my family by a Fianna Fail led government who betrayed the trust of the people who voted for them. Any trust given to me by the people of Donegal will be rewarded with my commitments and determination to give the people of Donegal fair play.
I was told that I would never get justice and people would say to my family and I you will never beat the Law. I correct them by saying I fought corruption with the law and thankfully the Law won.
Some commentators say that I am on a personal crusade, this is not true and anyone who I have helped will confirm this. The only score that I want to settle is the social one that has left this county in an economic wilderness. We still have no replacement for our textile and fishing industries that employed so many in the last recession. We must not forget our biggest industry, farming which this government has neglected. The Tánaiste is minister for announcing jobs and she has yet to announce a substantial new factory for her constituency.
(An Injustice anywhere is an injustice everywhere)
Can we achieve change, Yes we can.
Cllr 
