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LAST UPDATE | 6 Oct 2021
A CORK FIANNA Fáil TD has threatened to leave the party saying he was “misled” by government officials over allocations in the National Development Plan (NDP).
Cork East deputy James O’Connor has told local radio that “if commitments made to me are not fulfilled” he will consider leaving the party.
O’Connor says he was told in “good faith” that €54 million for a relief road at Castlemartyr and Killeagh would be provided for in the NDP but this did not materialise.
Speaking to Patricia Messinger on C103′s Cork Today Show, O’Connor says he feels he was “lied to” by “a multitude of colleagues” but that it “would be unfair to lay the blame at anyone’s feet”.
There has been anger in east Cork since the announcement of the NDP on Monday, with particular focus on the absence of plans for the Killeagh/Castlemartyr N25 bypass road and an upgrade of the R624 Fota road.
O’Connor said funding for the two roads was “one of the most important issues in this constituency” and that was seeking a meeting with Taoiseach Micheál Martin over the issue.
Martin has said that if other projects are delayed then the money could be invested into other projects and he mentioned the Castlemartyr bypass.
“I would like to say that I will continue to fight for this project to be included in the National Development Plan, and I will not relent until I get a commitment from governments that this project will be supported,” O’Connor told the programme.
I have asked for a meeting with An Taoiseach Micheál Martin and the Minister of Transport. I have yet to receive an official reply responding to that request and if I do not receive any information on that in the next number of days I will be looking at a number of options, including resigning the whip of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party.
An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin and the Minister for Transport will meet me tomorrow afternoon to discuss the new National Development Plan document. I will be seeking assurances on key road projects that have not been directly identified.
— James O'Connor TD (@JamesOConnorTD) October 6, 2021
In a Facebook post yesterday, independent councillor from Youghal Mary Linehan Foley said she was “beyond disappointed and upset” that there were no road commitments for the area.
“It is incredibly disappointing that East Cork appears to be left behind once again. I am hurt that the government does not appear to be giving East Cork the projects which are so vital to its development and sustainability,” the councillor said.
Speaking today, O’Connor said he has been “fighting the good fight” and that he was “hurt” by the actions of some local councillors who have used the NDP announcement “as a stick to beat me”.
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Any chance you’ll actually follow through on your threat?
@Roy Dowling: C’mon, this is Fianna Fáil we’re talking about! Chances of him doing so range from slim to none. Mind you a politician being lied to makes a nice change from politicians lying to…
@Roy Dowling: as good an excuse as any to leave the sinking ship.
@Roy Dowling: A this is just a way of getting votes what else is new
@Roy Dowling: it can be embarrassing when you follow through
He is in FF, what does he expect
Great. Just what we needed. Another “independent” FF TD.
@Andrew English: independents do well, every time I turn on the radio, Roisin Shorthall is on it rabbiting away
@Alan Campbell: Check it out….. She’s not an INDEPENDENT and furthermore she speaks a lot of sense anytime I hear her . Rabbiting away is well practised in the likes of SF, FF FG…..
@Jerriko17: well there’s two of them in the Dail and they call themselves a “party”
@Alan Campbell: What year are you living in? There are 6 elected tds in the Social Democrats.
@Jerriko17: they are a more populist new Labour, not really independents.
@Jerriko17: Rabbiting away. I thought that was the domaine of Labour . In any event where is Pat these days?
@Jonathan O’Riordan: oh Pat is living off his fat pension.
I thought lying was one of the key competencies required to join Fianna Fáil, no?
FF tell lies, surely it can’t be.
“Hold me back lads”,
“Lads if ye don’t hold me back I’ll do it”
“Lads quick hold me back for god sake”
“Lads”?
“Lads are ye there”?
The poor fellow. Does this gentleman have any idea about the commitments that his party have given to the Irish electorate time and time again to get them elected?
Generations of Irish people have experienced first hand the failure of Fianna Fáil to deliver on their commitments. Throw your toys out of your pram all you like.
They will NEVER change.
FF is a sinking ship he could well do himself a favour …
Just because Deputy James O’Connor has the honorary title of ‘Baby of the Dáil’. It’s not a reason to throw his dolly out of the FFG pram. As a junior partner in a coalition government. You take what little you get.
Did he get any commitment in writing? Maybe baby just needs a pat on the head from the grown ups.
@leartius: Junior partners?????? Though FF were the biggest party in government.
@Jerriko17: he seems to be confused between seats held and opinion polls…
Frightening absolutely frightening to think we have still people walking around this country that will actually vote for FF and a lad like this,frightening stuff.
Bye.
Self serving “Brat”, Never heard him contribute anything until now. This is essentially Local small mindedness before Country. Give him back his soother and quell the Tantrum.
@James Keogh: you are hilarious you are. The man tries to serve his constituents and he’s a spoilt brat. He ignores his constituents and goes with the flow and he’s not representing the people. Cannot win with the likes of you. Mo.ronic comment to say the least
@Eoin Jackson: James is correct in his assessment. I never heard of that TD before. He knows FF will be decimated in the next election so he is only trying to save himself.
@Eoin Jackson: He will toe the Iine, too much to lose, he will be thrown a line of inclusion further down the line to go to the “People” with and that my man is Politics
One way to get yourself noticed……
Whatever about all the anti-politician rants here, it is extraordinary that this crucial road upgrade continues to be ignored.
@Joe Healy: They should’ve extended the rail-line from Midleton to Youghal. That would’ve relieved pressure on the road and been better for the environment. But if they’re not going to do that, then they’ve to bypass C’martyr at least.
Missed a trick with the headline here: “Baby of the Dáil threatens to throw toys out of the pram”
April 1st is not for another 6 months :)
Td promises his constituents he will get the bypass done if they vote for him. TD now admits he can’t deliver on his promise. Makes a bit of a fuss to show his displeasure with his governing colleagues. This should guarantee his reelection next time.
You can be sure they will go to that meeting well prepared , you will get ” assurances”" with conditions attached , they will go back to their Office’s saying ” another satisfied customer” , and your road will be as far away as ever,– just wait and see ! .
Sorry who?
It looks like the Government is going to give in on this one, so fair dues to this TD, whether you agree with this project or not, it’s great to see a TD stand up against his Party, for something that’s probably important to his area and constituents. If more TD’s did this, instead of following the Party Whip we might have a better spread of Infrastructural improvements, around the Country. Hopefully the Government TD from the North West might follow suit, regarding the underfunded Roads, Rail, Hospitals and Mica scandal.
Just do it so then
You will, yeah.
Judging by the comments here not one of ye know where Castlemartyr is and what they have been putting up with
His boss said pre election loss of Biodiversity is a major issue..(to woo the Green Party into power with FF) True so no more roads or motorways, Eamon is the boss on that one…. You should jump ship before you disappear altogether…… Wipe that silly looking grin of your face, before you jump where ever that is….
He looks v happy.
Maybe if the TD instead of being parochial would look at the national view instead he might reach the same conclusion as others in regards to where money is to be spent. We are a small country and there seems to be constant conflict between local and national issues. People in the Dail are there to run the country and not seek to upgrade a local regional road like the one to Fota. Sure they have to represent their constituents but also have to pull their weight as members of Dail Eireann. This seems to me to be a tactical move so he can decide the best way to be re-elected. He is part of a system that reached this decision he now must support the system or resign from the system and not just the party.
@Niall Ó Cofaigh: That would be the ideal situation, but let’s not forget, TDs campaign and get elected on Local issues, and for some reason mysteriously forget those issues when they get Elected.
Ryan can’t see beyond his own constituency and he can go anywhere within by bicycle
See ya James
Ryan is full of him self and all fir himself
I’m bowled over with all these by-passes, he doesn’t understand that Eamon Ryan is the boss on this one, Martin made a committee to tackle biodiversity loss in a pre election move to woo the Greens into an alliance with FF….. Motorways, roads eats up biodiversity so O Connor is going up a cul-de-sac….
Sorry correction above not committee, commitment instead
All politics are not local. Who is going to pay for the byepasses? The people of Castlemartyr and Killeagh are trying to blackmail the government and the rest of the country to pay for their byepasses, and this TD is their spokesperson. Politicians live in fairyland removed from real taxpayers. I hope the next generation of TDs will think of the national interest.
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