James Breen (Clare, Independent)

Tonight in Shannon a large meeting will be held on the matter of the pupil-teacher ratio. At another meeting a year and a half ago a representative of the Government said everything was rosy in the garden and that no child who needed it would be left without special needs education or one-to-one tuition, but nothing has happened.

I have no problem with the requirement for 30 assentors. While I could get 100 to endorse me, I welcome the decision to make getting one's name on the ballot paper easier. For too long the large parties made the rules and dictated terms. They are trying to make the work of Independents difficult, but the Independents have represented their constituencies and the people fairly, honestly and without fear or favour since entering the House. I hope that after the election count has concluded — the Government may be holding back on calling the general election because it is afraid it will lose heavily — I will be back in the House to continue the work I have carried out for the past five years. The people of County Clare see the benefits of having an Independent Deputy——

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