And We're Off

Today the campaign really kicked off. The day began early as usual, around 6.30 to organise everything for the canvass.

The trick with canvassing is to be systematic. Technology has helped in the last few campaigns. We're practically able to identify houses on a likelihood of voting basis, an issues basis, or in some cases on a party affiliation basis. This will save a lot of time when it comes to the last few panicked days of the campaign.

In Dublin today we had probably our last cabinet meeting with a packed agenda. Whilst I'm no longer a TD, I still have Ministerial responsibilities - the country can't grind to a halt just b because of an election. During the election period I'm supposed to be technically unemployed!!! The mood around the cabinet table was positive with many of my colleagues reporting positive responses on the doorsteps.

That's good but it worries me if you don't get the odd telling off on the doorstep. I remember in '92 we got a very positive response on the doorstep and when it came to polling day we got a bit of a drubbing!!!!

I was one of the three Ministers at a press launch today for Fianna Fail's manifesto on tax. Fianna Fail's tax plans will mean that 97% of earners gain more than any other parties'. This measure is aimed primarily at the lower and middle income earners. For example a single earner on the average wage will earn of €1,000 over the lifetime of the next government.

Next I was traveling back to Meath for a canvass of Navan and some areas in South Meath. We had an impressive 50 canvassers in the Navan area. It's great for morale to see so many activists out and about. Generally it takes a day or two to warm up to the task - but then the banter begins and stories stretching back to '77 start being slung around. These canvasses make the uncertainty of being technically unemployed bearable.

Seeing the traffic on the road back to Navan brought home to me, as it does everyday as I commute to Dublin, that Meath needs the rail and the road. Sometimes the pace of infrastructure projects is as slow as the traffic we sit in. I started proceedings for the M3 and the rail to Navan in ‘97. I'm glad to see there is progress, and I don't believe that anyone could have brought it quicker, working with colleagues like Seamus Brennan and Martin Cullen we've been able to force these vital pieces of infrastructure through. In 2009 a park and ride facility will open in Pace linking more Meath people with the railine and reducing commuter times.


I was at the sod turning on the M3 only yesterday - and today an archaeological discovery was made. As promised work that might disturb the area was ceased and archaeologists were given space and time to work. They will then make a judgment about the significance of the find.

I hope that this discovery is not hijacked and used as a method of trying to stop the road. This will be the largest piece of road infrastructure in the history of the state and I can tell you from what I'm hearing on the doorsteps - people need and want the M3. Meath will benefit in terms of attracting more business. Meath people will benefit from the reduced commute, giving them back some hours spent stuck in traffic everyday. Most importantly lives will be saved because of the increased safety of the road. I hope we can find a way to maintain progress and enhance people's quality of life by building this road whilst recognising the importance of our past.

So the day ended up at about 1am when I finished recording the last query we'd received from the canvasses early on.