Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I add to my voice to those who praised the late Deputy, Nicky McFadden. It was my great honour to get to know her, however briefly. She was an extraordinary person and I would like to extend my sympathy to her family and to the family of Patrick Nulty on the passing of his father.

It is regrettable that the Government has taken until the last possible day to announce these by-elections. It is no coincidence that it has left as little time as possible for opposition candidates to mount election campaigns. The Government is beginning this campaign with cynical, old school, negative politics reminiscent of governments past. Despite this, I am delighted that Mr. David Hall will run as an independent candidate in the upcoming by-election. He has a proven track record in fighting for the people. He co-founded the Irish Mortgage Holders Organisation and he helps families every day to find solutions to unsustainable debt. He and his colleagues have more than 1,000 cases ready to go to the Insolvency Service of Ireland.

We hear much of the need for entrepreneurs. David is one such entrepreneur. The company he founded employs 72 people full time. He knows what is required to create jobs and he was involved in setting up the first ever children's ambulance service in Europe. When the previous Government created an IOU for Anglo Irish Bank amounting to €31 billion, David Hall took a case to the High Court to try to stop those payments. He is involved with several worthy charities and he set up the Make-A-Wish Foundation many years ago.

David grew up in Blanchardstown and lives in Castleknock with his wife and two children. As an independent Deputy, David Hall would have the freedom to continue to fight for the people of Ireland and Dublin West. He has fought very well from outside the system and has effected much important change. I, he and many others believe he could achieve much more good and benefit for the Irish people and the people of Dublin West as a Deputy. David Hall would be a superb representative for the people of Dublin West. He would make a superb Deputy. I hope the people of Dublin West recognise everything he has done and what he is capable of doing for them and give him their vote on 23 May.

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