Standing down as Sinn Féin Public Representative

Having represented Sinn Féin in the Dublin South Dáil constituency and the Glencullen/Sandyford local electoral ward for nearly seven years now, it is with mixed emotions that I am standing down as our local representative ahead of the local elections scheduled for next year.

I am delighted however to announce that my good friend and comrade Chris Curran, with whom I have been working closely for the last two years, will be taking on the role of public rep in the Glencullen/Sandyford ward and that I will continue to work closely with Chris.

A mixture of work and family commitments has meant keeping up with local constituency work has been an ongoing struggle since my son was born in April 2012. And I am fully aware that these commitments would have grown significantly if I was to stand and win a seat in the local elections next year.

I am proud to have represented the party in the 2007 general election, the local elections in 2009 and in the Dublin South by-election also in 2009.

I am also proud of my work on local campaigns such as the Save Stepaside Garda Station campaign earlier this year, the campaign for a permanent school building for Holy Trinity National School, the Keep the 44 Bus in Ballyogan campaign and the many other campaigns I have been involved in over the years.

I have always tried to highlight the disgraceful housing situation in Dún Laoghaire Rathdown and to help, as much as I possibly could, those in need of local authority housing.

I have worked directly with so many people over the years and I hope that I have been helpful to most of them.

I still strongly believe that this area needs to elect a Sinn Féin councillor to stand up strongly for the ordinary people and for those struggling most in the current economic crisis, the unemployed, the working poor and struggling mortgage holders.

I am therefore delighted that Chris has taken up the role as our public representative as I know he will work night and day in the interests of this community.

And I intend to work hard to have him elected to Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.

I will also be continuing my work in the Sinn Féin Press Office and playing a key role in the election of many new Sinn Féin Councillors and MEPs next year.

I want to say thanks to all the local Sinn Féin members in this area who have helped me over the years and who have accepted my decision with good will and best wishes.  I look forward to working with all into the future albeit in a different role.

Beirigí bua,

Shaun.