*Cllr Pat Burke (FG). Photograph: Gary Collins
AN EAST CLARE Fine Gael elected member has said he is more concerned with their failings in Government rather than their poor Presidential election performance.
Fine Gael have yet to succeed in a Presidential election and in a two-horse race only managed to secure 29.46 percent of the vote nationally and 26.7 percent within Co Clare as Heather Humphreys (FG) considerably trailed the successful candidate, Catherine Connolly (IND).
Speaking to The Clare Echo, Cllr Pat Burke (FG) outlined that poor performance on delivery is more damaging to the Government than how they fared in the race for the Arás.
“It was a very difficult election because of the failure of the Government and the Budget didn’t do anything for hard-pressed people. I’m not too upset over the Presidential Election, I’m more upset with the failure to deliver on housing, health and disability services as opposed to Catherine Connolly getting such a big vote,” he admitted.
Whitegate native Burke also took aim at the parties of the left for their inclination to stay in opposition rather than opting to go into Government. “They all came together, People Before Profit, Labour, Social Democrats and Sinn Féin but if they had an opportunity to come together and form a Government would they? It is great for them now to say they got together, that is much easier than going into Government which is why they don’t enter Government. Sinn Féin have had two good General Elections in a row but they would much prefer to stay in opposition”.
