Following disruption to canvasses in County Mayo yesterday, MEP Maria Walsh has called for a doubling of attention on safety and security in the final days of the Local and European elections.
Maria Walsh MEP was canvassing in towns across County Mayo as part of her re-election campaign with An Taoiseach Simon Harris, Former Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Ministers Helen McEntee and Alan Dillon, Deputy Michael Ring and Local Election candidates.
Maria Walsh, MEP for Midlands-North West, said:
“I wish to firstly thank members of the Gardaí in Swinford, Castlebar and Westport for their professionalism and dedication in keeping all of us who were out canvassing yesterday safe. I wish to also thank An Taoiseach Simon Harris, Former Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Ministers Helen McEntee and Alan Dillon, Deputy Michael Ring and all those who joined yesterday for their support in my campaign.
“I fully support and respect the act of protest, and I will always defend people’s right to peaceful protest but what happened yesterday crossed a line. A very small number of loud, angry people were anything but peaceful.
“They made a show out of themselves and achieved nothing other than increasing the support for our campaign. In due course, I would like to see an investigation by An Garda Síochána into the events of yesterday.
“Despite the interruption, I was proud to bring An Taoiseach Simon Harris to my home county of Mayo where we enjoyed an energetic and positive day meeting voters and local election candidates – including many of our female and young candidates.
“Ireland is one of the few countries where politicians, from local Councillors to An Taoiseach, can roam the streets meeting members of the public. It gives voters an opportunity to speak directly with us, their public representatives, so that we can serve them best. It is a rarity and a privilege which we must protect.
“In the final days of the Local and European elections, I am calling for additional support for An Garda Síochána to ensure they can double their efforts in keeping all those canvassing and campaigning safe. I am also calling for increased attention on polling stations and count centres so that people can exercise their right to vote in peace without fear of any interference.“
