Peter Cassells Labour candidate for Euro election

national | politics / elections | press release Friday January 30, 2004 11:49 by allende - lp

SPEECH BY LIZ MCMANUS TD

Tonight the choice has been made: Peter Cassells is the Labour candidate for the
new East constituency. As a Party member and its Deputy Leader I am very proud
to be able to say that. We are extremely fortunate that we have had two such
excellent candidates in Peter Cassells and Peter Ward. Two Peters from County
Meath and both, I have no doubt, with a bright political future.

As a future MEP for the Leinster constituency, Peter Cassells has an outstanding
pedigree. From a well-known Meath family he has a track record of achievement in
the Labour Party and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions as its General
Secretary. He has a wide range of experience in legislation, in Trade Union
negotiations and in European affairs.

His ability, his experience, his commitment and his decency make him an
outstanding candidate. It is up to Labour Party members and supporters to ensure
an outstanding campaign that will deliver the victory not just for the Labour
Party but for the people of Leinster.

We will face the local and European election on 11th June with considerable
confidence. From this selection convention today we emerge with a candidate of
the highest calibre and commitment, combining a high level of service to the
community with ability and determination. Our aim is to win a European seat in
Leinster for the Labour Party and I am relying on every single member of our
Party in Leinster to get involved in that effort.

We have good reason to be confident, and every reason to be determined. Our
national membership has increased substantially over the last year and we hope
to continue attracting new members over the next few months.

The Leinster constituency of Ireland East as it is now called needs a clear and
effective voice at European level. Despite its diversity of counties from Louth
in the north of the constituency to Wexford in the south, similar challenges are
being faced. Despite the growth in employment generally, job security is an
issue and the need to invest in substantial jobs skills and training is vital.

Our counties have experienced and are still experiencing the overflow
development as the city of Dublin continues to grow in population. The new
communities that have put down roots in Leinster are welcome but the pressure
caused by poor planning, inflated house prices, deficient infrastructure, and
their negative impact on the quality of life of our citizens, results from a
government incapable of meeting the needs of its people, incompetent when it
comes to resolving difficulties and uncaring when it comes to ensuring social
justice and solidarity in society.

Of course, the European elections this year will take place against a background
of change in Europe as a whole. One of the reasons it is so important that we
put our best foot forward is that Leinster needs the best representation it can
get. We need to scrutinise the changes that are coming. We need to approach the
Constitutional and Treaty changes on which we will all be asked to vote again,
perhaps in the next twelve to eighteen months, honestly and openly ? and as
critically as necessary.

We need to do that from a position of strength and expertise, and with the
support of our colleagues in the Party of European Socialists from around
Europe. We will be ensuring that through them we have a significant input into
the Irish presidency of the European Council, which currently occupies us.

We share many objectives, especially the desire to promote and protect the
social model that has been built in Europe. All of us in the PES want to see
strong links between economic and social progress. We want to see the economic
potential of the Union and of the euro used to achieve full employment, a high
level of social protection and to ensure that people in all regions of the Union
enjoy the same high quality of life. We all want to be involved in setting
economic and social priorities for the Union as a whole, with targets for
economic growth, employment, social and environment policy that member states
are committed to achieve.

For all those reasons, with the interests of Leinster and Ireland at heart, but
also because we are committed to a proud, confident, growing and inclusive
Europe, it is vital that we go forward from here determined to take on the task
of electing a Labour MEP for Leinster. We can do so secure in the knowledge that
he will not let the people of Leinster down.