'I don't make any promises, I just work hard' says new TD Carrigy

Fine Gael senator Micheál Carrigy was the fifth and final candidate to be elected to the Dáil in Longford Westmeath during the early hours of last Monday morning.

He has been a consistent presence in Longford politics for years, but this marks his first general election victory. He unsuccessfully campaigned for a Dáil seat in 2020 before being elected as a senator later that year.

Reacting to his electoral success, Carrigy said, "I'm delighted. I worked hard since I was unsuccessful four and a half years ago, my election campaign for this election started the day after I was defeated the last time.

"I worked hard over that period since I was elected to Seanad Éireann, working on a lot of significant national projects in the Seanad, but also continued to work for the various communities within the constituency."

The senator was quick to emphasise that his community work over the past four years was key to this victory.

“I came from a community work background, and that's why I continue working on supporting and securing funding and building a good solid base for myself to have a go again with a very successful local election, particularly in Longford where we secured over 40% of the vote in the county.

"It was the highest vote in any county in Ireland for Fine Gael and indeed in my own home district. We secured 58%, which was also the highest vote for any party in any district in in the country, so I'm happy. That has paid off.

“People see me as a worker and that's what I am. I don't make any promises. I just work hard,” Carrigy emphasised. “And that's what I'm going to do for the next hopefully five years as a member of the Fine Gael party in Government.”

Carrigy is currently the Chair of the joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism, and his work in this area has not gone unnoticed throughout Longford-Westmeath, particularly in Athlone.

“We issued a report as a committee, 109 recommendations, a significant part of those recommendations now form a national strategy, which I have a draft piece of legislation to legislate for that strategy on a permanent basis,” Carrigy explained. “That work is going to benefit every family in the country.”

Carrigy also emphasised his “close working relationship” with local advocacy organisations such as Infinity Friends in Athlone.

“Claire, Hilda and everyone involved (with Infinity Friends) I’ve been, for a number of years, helping them and working with them, supporting them.

“I think they're an example of a parents’ group that does fantastic work supporting each other, supporting the kids, and now they've actually moved into their own premises out in the Monksland area, and I think they need to be complemented.

“I have a piece of unfinished business. I want to see all 109 recommendations in the report implemented and I have a commitment, as I say, from our party leader and it’s in our manifesto that we will legislate that strategy, which I think is important, for anyone in the autistic community.”

A mention of the Fine Gael party leader Simon Harris raised questions about the party’s performance in this election.

Although nationally Fine Gael was marginally outperformed by Fianna Fáil, in Longford Westmeath it gained two seats to Fianna Fáil’s one. Carrigy was insistent that what is needed is a strong, stable government with Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil at the centre.

“I would hope there would be discussions with Fianna Fáil and I think we actually work very well, and we managed the country through Covid, through energy crises, cost of living crises, prudently managed the economy and were able to support families, and I think that's what I'd like to see in the next government.”

He suggested “solid independents” could also be involved.

“I do believe one was recently elected only in the last hour. Kevin Boxer Moran, he was someone that was well regarded within our own party. Maybe he might be consider a phone call – we’ll see!”

“It's great to see him coming back and he’s a great representative.”