Ring calls on Harris to reward Mayo with ministries

Former Mayo TD and Minister Michael Ring has called on Simon Harris to reward the Fine Gael party in Mayo and appoint its two TDs with ministries.

Fine Gael will return two TDs in Mayo for the second successive election with Westport-based candidate Keira Keogh to join Alan Dillon as Fine Gael TDs in Dáíl Éireann.

Ring was not rewarded with a senior ministry after the 2020 General Election despite being the only Fine Gael candidate to top the poll and bring in a running mate. He called on Simon Harris not to let this happen to Mayo again if Fine Gael return to government.

“I am saying this loud and clear to Simon Harris. Mayo has been very good to Fine Gael and to every election over the last 30 years. We have delivered two or three seats in every election and I believe Simon Harris has to look at the two TDs that are going to be elected in Mayo and I expect the two to be ministers. 

“Not awarded to TDs who run in single constituencies and have no competition and no hope of winning a second seat. You have to reward success. We have two capable people here and I think the two of them should be ministers and I mean that loud and clear.

“It is alright for fellas and women going in constituencies that have nobody else with them. Any constituency that brings in someone with them has to be looked at and rewarded,” he said.

Alan Dillon is currently the Minister of State in the Department of Housing and is being tipped by many to be given a senior portfolio if Fine Gael return to power.

Ring was speaking after arriving at the count centre in the TF Royal Theatre in Castlebar where his successor Keira Keogh is about to be elected as a first time TD.

Keogh who failed to gain a seat at the local elections in June was an outsider to take the seat but Ring said he had great faith in her and praised his election team for getting her over the line.

“I knew we were in with a chance once we got the organisation up and rallied. Peter Flynn and myself with John Murphy, the Director of Elections put everything into this for her. She was an easy candidate to sell because she has a wonderful personality and is very bright and she performed very well. I am very proud of her and the happiest man in Mayo today,” Ring said.