Outgoing TD Tom Hayes is one of two Fine Gael candidates on the party ticket in Tipperary South. The Cahervillahow farmer was elected to Seanad Eireann in 1997 where he was quickly appointed as the party's Spokesperson on Agriculture in the upper house. Having run unsuccessfully in a 2000 by-election, Hayes went one better the following year when he was elected to fill the seat left vacant in Tipperary North by the death of Theresa Ahern. He was successfully returned to the Dáil in both 2002 and 2007 and is currently Fine Gael's Deputy Transport Spokesperson.

Policies

• Rebuilding Irish economy, including re-negotiating the IMF/EU deal
• Job creation in South Tipperary
• Reform of our health service

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