Ask the TDs: Dara Calleary on Fianna Fáil’s leader Micheal Martin

Each week in the run up to the General Election, JOE is asking a representitive from each of the main political parties to answer a burning question relevant to Irish men in 2011.

We're not putting any spin on their answers: we ask the question, they give us their answers, and we print what they tell us.

Representing Fianna Fáil on our virtual panel of Dáil Deputies is the TD for Mayo Dara Calleary.

Question: "Why is your party leader the right man to lead the country in the years to come and to get us out of the financial mire we’re in? And what qualifies you to represent the young men in your constituency, many of whom will have given up hope in the political elite of Ireland?"

Answered by Fianna Fáil's Dara Calleary TD

Ireland needs a new way of doing Politics.

It is my belief that Fianna Fáil under the leadership of Michael Martin has shown a willingness to radically reform the way the Oireachtas and Local Government work. Our reform proposals, as outlined in our Election Manifesto, clearly illustrates Michael Martin’s vision for change and appetite to challenge the system in its present outdated format.

Job creation and getting Ireland back to work is the priority for Ireland and for me personally in my constituency of Mayo. As a former Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and most recently as Minister for Foreign Affairs, nobody can question Michael Martin’s skills, ability and most importantly his experience, in delivering jobs and the conditions that promote employment.

In the policies underpinning our National Recovery Plan is a series of investments in initiatives to increase the number of new jobs directly associated with exporting enterprises by over 150,000 jobs. These jobs will come directly in manufacturing, tourism and internationally traded services.

Specifically, Michael Martin and Fianna Fáil’s commitment is:

• That each enterprise agency will target its schemes to achieve specific elements of the overall plan (IDA Ireland ~75,000, Enterprise Ireland ~60,000, tourism ~15,000)

• To “job proof” all new policy and legislation to ensure that it is pro-employment

• To increase the value of exports by agency assisted indigenous companies by 33%.

• To increase the number of exporting firms.

• To increase the value of exports from existing exporters, both to established markets and to markets offering new opportunities.

• To diversify the destination of indigenous exports.

• To increase the share of food and drink exports going to countries outside the UK, from 56% to 62%.

• To increase the share of other exports going to countries outside the UK, from 57% to 63%.

• To increase the share of food and drink exports to Asia, from 4% to 7%.

• To integrate trade policy into the Department of Foreign Affairs, with each diplomatic post playing a significantly enhanced role in trade promotion.

Foreign Direct Investment will continue to play a vital role in Ireland’s revitalisation and Michael’s experience, coupled with the strong working relationships that he has established over a number of years in Foreign Affairs will prove invaluable in Ireland’s quest to continue to attract such substantial and essential investment.

Furthermore in the weeks since taking over the leadership of Fianna Fáil Michael Martin has also displayed humility and modesty - very important characteristics of leadership. He has acknowledged the mistakes that have been made in the past and he has clearly illustrated that lessons must be learned from those mistakes.

Youngest

In my own case I believe that I am well placed to represent young men and young people in general in my constituency. I am the youngest male candidate in this election and I have an appreciation for the problems and difficulties that young people are experiencing.

For almost four years as a T.D. for Mayo I have prioritised job creation and employment for Ireland and for Mayo. My proudest achievement as Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation was the creation of 250 new jobs in my hometown – the biggest IDA announcement of 2010.  Ireland needs more of this type of progress so that we can ensure that the young brains of this country can work and live in their own communities.

I have also secured over €150 million worth of investment in communities across Mayo. Much of this helped to create employment particularly in construction and in community services programmes throughout the county. Sporting facilities, community halls and schools have been developed and enhanced and small local communities have reaped the benefit of having a local representative in the Dáil.

In this time I have also become increasingly aware of the difficulties presented by disability and mental health issues among young males in the county. I have been actively pursuing and delivering for organisations such as Irish Association of Supported Employment and the Irish Wheelchair Association and will continue to do so in the next Dáil if given the opportunity to do so by the people of Mayo.

Dara Calleary TD is standing for election as a Fianna Fáil candidate in the Mayo constituency. Check out Dara's website at daracalleary.ie