Statement from Minister Paschal Donohoe

As the election for the 34th Dail enters its final hours I want to make the case for the importance of how votes are cast and what this means for the future of Ireland.

Elections are always about the future, about looking ahead, about charting a course for our country and our people.

Looking forward to the future must always begin with an examination of where we are today.

With an acknowledgment of the needs of our people, of the need to build more homes, of the need to help with the cost of living and continuing to improve our public services.

I was and am aware of these needs every day, in the outgoing Dail, due to having the honour of serving and representing the people of Dublin Central.

In acknowledging what we must do, I also make the case for what we have achieved.

More homes are being built.

We have never had more people working in Ireland.

Our public finances are healthy.

Our public services are growing, in their funding and scale. The lives of our people are improved by the work of our nurses, Gardai, teachers and public servants.

All of this has been delivered after a pandemic, at a time of wars and after price increases that we have not seen for a generation.

To fix our problems, to continue our progress, to make the most of our opportunities, we need a stable economy and a stable government.

To deliver this I am asking for a number one vote for Fine Gael tomorrow.

At a time when the needs are many and growing, what is the value of economic stability?

Let me begin by saying what it is.

It’s being able to invest in our future. In more homes. In a greener Ireland. In a more competitive economy with better living standards and outcomes for society.

It’s being able to help at moments of crisis, without having to introduce cutbacks or austerity during times that are difficult.

It’s being able to assure employers that Ireland is a good country in which to create and keep a job.

Let me say what it is not.

It is not the same as nothing improving. Or nothing changing. It is not the status quo.

Economic stability is the foundation for improving our lives for the better.

That is why I, respectfully, ask for a number one vote for Fine Gael and for Simon Harris as Taoiseach.

To those who are considering otherwise let me say a few words.

Sinn Fein, yesterday, asked for the lend of your vote.

If you lend them your vote, you lend them your future. You might not get your future back.

Sinn Fein have not been able to answer the most basic economic questions in this campaign. Not one.

Will banks lend for their affordable home scheme?

Why should we save less for the future, when the future looks uncertain?

How can you keep jobs while increasing taxes on employers?

Not all change is safe. Safety matters now.

To those who are considering votes for independent candidates let me say a few words to you.

Improving your local community, parish or county is the least you should expect.

Local matters.

But, we can only improve the local, if the national situation is secure.

Your Fine Gael candidate cares as much about your local community as any independent candidate. For your local economy to prosper, the national economy must be safe.

This is an election like no other. As the risks of instability grow elsewhere, I ask voters not to allow that happen in Ireland.

We have much to lose.

We have much to gain.

Please vote for Fine Gael, for Simon Harris, for stability, so that we rise to the tests of today, and lead Ireland to better and safer shores.