The election, at last, is on.

2nd February, 2011

The fate of the country will be decided in the next three weeks. It will be exciting, worrying, uplifting and depressing. But no matter what, it will be important. Many things will be different about this campaign. For the first time, it won’t be Fianna Fail versus the rest. It won’t be about giveaways but about responsible management of the economy. There will be no Bertie and no builders to give him free advertising space.

In Dublin Central, and in the country as a whole, there is a palpable desire for change. The Fianna Fail vote is shattered. Where the shards of support go will be determined on February 25th. Some will, undoubtedly, go to minor parties with simple slogans. Some will go to Labour. It is my hope- and intention- to harness the anger of the electorate and use it to bring about a new Government with new priorities.

Some things will stay the same, though. Fianna Fail may say they have changed but behind the scenes, it’s the same faces. Just ask PJ Mara