Taoiseach Simon Harris makes fleeting visit to Kilkenny

Taoiseach Simon Harris made a fleeting visit to Kilkenny City this afternoon to officially open the campaign office for his party colleague and General Election candidate for Carlow-Kilkenny, Cllr David Fitzgerald.

The Taoiseach greeted family members and campaigners for Cllr Fitzgerald on his arrival to the new campaign office on High Street (in the former Toymaster shop).

He also stopped to chat to a variety of local people on issues of concern to them as the General Election looms, despite an official date yet to be announced.

FOR THE LATEST KILKENNY GENERAL ELECTION NEWS, CLICK HERE

After cutting the ribbon, Harris entered the new campaign office and addressed those who had gathered.

Flanked by Cllr Fitzgerald, he said that it was 'great to be back in Kilkenny'.

"We're running a really strong team of three [Fine Gael] candidates [in Carlow-Kilkenny]," he said.

"David Fitzgerald is such an important part of that team. With his energy and experience, I really want him to join my team in the Dáil."

Speaking to Kilkenny Live, Cllr Fitzgerald said that people can come to the campaign office if they have issues or if they want to be involved or volunteer with the campaign.

"Amongst the people we arranged for the Taoiseach to meet today were the parents of children with some issues around deafness," he continued.

"We had DEIS schools issues that we discussed and the aim was to ensure that the Taoiseach was clued into the small issues as well as the big issues."

Cllr Fitzgerald further noted that he has 'been out canvassing since September' and stated that the feedback he's getting from people is that 'they want the government to take the lead'.

"Things like the overspending of government money. They want that sorted. They don't necessarily want a change in government but they want representation and they want people that will take what seem like small issues seriously and listen to them."

On the topic of the Taoiseach, Cllr Fitzgerald described him as 'listening', and 'a good guy to talk to'. 

"He takes note of what peoples' concerns are," Fitzgerald said, "and I've seen firsthand how he gets stuck in and gets them resolved."

Cllr Fitzgerald is one of three candidates running for Fine Gael in the Carlow-Kilkenny constiuency, alongside Cllr Michael Doyle and Catherine Callaghan.

FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS, CLICK HERE