O’Mahony to consult voters ahead of constituency move decision

O’Mahony to consult voters ahead of constituency move decision


Ciara Galvin

Mayo DΡil deputy John O’Mahony has categorically stated that he has not made up his mind as to which constituency he will contest in next year’s General Election and said he will be consulting with voters in the coming weeks before any decision is made.
Speaking to The Mayo News yesterday (Monday) Mr O’Mahony said there was bound to be speculation of a move to the Galway West constituency due to the boundary revisions and due to the fact that he looks set to lose a chunk of possible voters when the current number of TDs in Mayo is reduced from five to four.
The constituency commission report in 2012 recommended a reduction of DΡil seats in Mayo as part of the overall drop in the number of TDs from 166 to 158.
This redrawing will see up to 10,000 south Mayo voters now cast their vote in the Galway West constituency.
“A big portion of south Mayo votes will be moving, and that decision has already been made. I presume there will be a Mayo candidate and because I represent that area speculation has come from that,” said O’Mahony.
The TD explained that before any decision is made, first he would need to speak to his party colleagues, party leader An Taoiseach Enda Kenny, and voters.
“It was always a privilege to represent the Mayo constituents. I will have to bring the decision to a conclusion in the coming months,” said Deputy O’Mahony.