A Clonmel General Election candidate has launched a stinging attack on local opposition TDs both past and present.
Fine Gael Councillor and Mayor of Clonmel Michael Murphy has accused Mattie McGrath and Seamus Healy of achieving little or nothing for the town during their time in Dáil Éireann.
On Tipp Today earlier Councillor Murphy said having a Government TD representing South Tipp was far better than having Independents in opposition.
“I would ask the question between Deputy McGrath and indeed Seamus Healy who have between them 34 or 35 years’ service in Dáil Éireann – in that time what have they done for Clonmel? What have they done for the other key towns as well? They’re putting out this narrative that South Tipperary is not best served by having a Government representative in Dáil Éireann. Is he suggesting that we’re better off having for example three independents or two independents and a member of Sinn Féin? I don’t think there’s any logic to that.”
Councillor Murphy has accused Seamus Healy and Mattie McGrath of not being prepared to make the hard choices and actually deliver for their constituency.
On Tipp Today earlier the Mayor of Clonmel he said they chose to sit on the opposition benches rather than achieve something for Tipperary.
“In the context of the challenges that we face what has Deputy McGrath done to address the challenges? Since 2011 we have had three minority governments – all of those governments sought support from Independents. A handful of Independents around the country supported the Government in return for delivering for their own constituencies – so I ask the question why did Deputy McGrath and why did Seamus Healy not take advantage of those opportunities?”