I’m Mary Roche, the Social Democrats Councillor for Waterford City East on Waterford City and County Council.
I am a Waterford woman, born and bred, and I am incredibly proud of that. I live with my husband, Liam, and our two youngest children in Waterford city.
I have worked my whole life for the betterment of Waterford. I’ve run my own business here, was a founding member of Red Kettle and served as a Director of Waterford Chamber of Commerce while working for WLRfm. I have been a local representative since 1999 and served as Mayor of our historic city. I know what Waterford has to give – not just to the city and county, but to Ireland.
Waterford’s progress has been stymied. Our airport is neglected, SETU is being stunted, UHW is drastically under-resourced and any funding we have received was squeezed out of government. We need to restructure how we achieve balanced regional development in Ireland. Waterford can only start to compete, grow and develop when investment is spread more evenly to our region.
If you want to fight for a better Waterford and a fairer Ireland, and if you believe in a party that stands against injustice, please give me your number 1 vote in the upcoming general election.
Is mise Mary Roche, an t-iarrthóir Dála leis na Daonlathaithe Sóisialta i bPort Láirge, agus is comhairleoir do Chathair Phort Láirge Thoir ar Chomhairle Cathrach agus Contae Phort Láirge mé faoi láthair.
Rugadh agus tógadh i bPort Láirge mé agus táim an-bhródúil as sin. Cónaím le m’fhear céile, Liam, agus lenár mbeirt leanaí is óige i gCathair Phort Láirge.
Tá mo shaol iomlán caite agam le Port Láirge a chur chun feabhais. Chuir mé mo ghnólacht féin ar bun anseo, ba bhall bunaidh de Red Kettle mé agus d’oibrigh mé mar Stiúrthóir ar Chumann Tráchtála Phort Láirge fad is a bhí mé ag obair le WLRfm. Tá mé i m’ionadaí áitiúil ó 1999 agus bhí mé i mo Mhéara ar ár gcathair stairiúil tráth. Tuigim go maith an mianach atá i bPort Láirge – ní hamháin do mhuintir na cathrach nó an chontae amháin, ach do mhuintir na hÉireann.
Tá bac curtha ar dhul chun cinn Phort Láirge. Tá drochbhail ar an aerfort, tá bac á chur ar SETU, tá Ospidéal na hOllscoile, Port Láirge an-ghann ar acmhainní agus níor thug an rialtas oiread agus toistiún dúinn gan troid. Caithfimid féachaint as an nua ar an tslí a mbainimid forbairt réigiúnach chothrom amach in Éirinn. Ní féidir le Port Láirge tosú ag dul san iomaíocht, ag fás ná ag forbairt go dtí go bhfaigheann an réigiún cothrom na Féinne ó thaobh infheistíochta de.
Más mian leat troid ar son Phort Láirge níos fearr agus Éire níos cothroime, agus má chreideann tú i bpáirtí atá in aghaidh na héagóra, tabhair dom do vóta céadrogha san olltoghchán atá ar na bacáin.