Thomasina Connell to represent Fine Gael in Laois in General Election

Fine Gael has announced that Thomasina Connell will represent the party in the Laois Constituency in the forth-coming General Election, along with Minister for Foreign Affairs, Charlie Flanagan TD. Ms Connell was added to the ticket by the Party’s Executive Council last night (Tues).

Thomasina Connell is a Solicitor and a native of Ballybrittas.  Daughter of Mary and the late Thomas Connell, she was educated at Scoil Mhuire, Portarlington, UCD and the Law Society of Ireland. A supporter and volunteer in the Charity sector for many years, she has also been active in the Dunamase and Cill Dara Riding Clubs, Foróige and is a supporter of Courtwood GAA Club.

She has served on the Criminal Law Committee for the DSBA and was Editor of the Criminal Law sector of the Parchment Magazine. She previously worked for the Northern Ireland Bureau in Washington D.C.

“I have been actively involved within Fine Gael in Laois for a number of years and am proud and honoured to be a General Election candidate for the party,”Ms. Connell stated.

“We cannot call ourselves a fully equal and just democracy while the number of women in the Dáil remains at its current rate of 15%. Fine Gael should be commended for seeking out fresh and young female voices, while at the same time opening the door to new candidates from outside of the traditional political profile.  This also opens the door to a new discourse in Irish politics, where gender is equally and fairly represented on the election ticket.

“I have direct personal experience of many of this constituency’s challenges and concerns: unemployment, negative equity and rising crime. As a solicitor who has dealt with a wide variety of legal cases, particularly in the area of crime, I have gained an insight into the cause and effect of criminality, and in particular, rural crime.  This has provided me with a perspective on my community’s fears.

“Yes, I am a woman, I do not come from a longstanding political family and I am new to politics. I consider all of these to be positives. I am proud to represent a party that encourages change, equality and empowerment of those who genuinely want to make a difference within their local communities.  There has never been a female TD from Laois and I am honoured to have the chance to be our first, representing the views of all of my constituents within Dáil Éireann,”Ms. Connell said.

“I believe that I can advance the causes that are important to me, and to people like me in my constituency, particularly inequality, unemployment and social deprivation. Jobs are central to this cause. More jobs mean less tax for working people and more revenue to provide better services.

“I grew up in a tight knit farming community where my family have lived for generations. I understand the issues that affect the industry and the lives of their families, including the potential impact of environmental challenges in rural communities.

“Fine Gael is doing its best to spread the benefits of recovery to as many homes as possible and I am proud to be a Party General Election candidate in Laois, ”she concluded.