John Dwyer was first elected to New Ross Town Council at the last local elections in May 1999. John is a candidate for New Ross Town Council, Wexford County Council and is also the party's candidate for the European Parliament election.
John stood as the Sinn Féin candidate in the 2002 general election in Wexford and achieved a significant breakthrough for the party, receiving 4,994 first preference votes.
His background in trade union activities has provided a strong grounding in representational politics and John has been noted as a particularly strong advocate of helping people to help themselves.
John lives in Ryleen, New Ross, with his wife Lorraine and has four children, two of whom are grown up.
Bernie Murphy is Chairperson of the H Block Martyrs Sinn Féin Cumann in New Ross and is a candidate for New Ross Town Council.
Under her leadership, the Sinn Féin Cumann in New Ross has gone from strength to strength with Bernie directly involved in spearheading various local campaigns and in increasing awareness on the national question.
Bernie is a well known community activist and has been involved with the Rapid Program in New Ross since its inception.
Married to Eddie, with two grown up children, Bernie lives in Bosheen, New Ross.
Gerard Barron is a member of the H Block Martyrs Sinn Féin Cumann in New Ross. He is anti-incineration spokesperson for Sinn Féin in Wexford and is a candidate for New Ross Town Council.
Born in Birmingham of Irish parents, whilst living in the UK, Gerard was politically active in local communities and worked with local resident's groups, including involvement with anti-racism initiatives, and negating anti-social behaviour by involving local youths in various community schemes, including the formation of a Junior and Intermediate Gaelic football team.
An Electrical Technician by profession, Gerard has a background as a Trade Union representative and was also the local Health and Safety Representative for his district for eight years, obtaining TUC qualifications.
Gerard is 38 years old, he is married with two children and lives in Mountgarret, New Ross.
New Ross District Manifesto
These local elections present the people of New Ross the opportunity to bring real change to the way our town is run.
Over the course of the last five years, Fianna Fáil have controlled New Ross Town Council with five out of nine seats.
With that majority, they did exactly as they wished. This meant that many people were ignored and forgotten about. If you happened to live in one of the many local authority estates in the town, then you were among the most neglected of all. Sinn Féin will seek to introduce clear procedures to deal with this appalling neglect of council tenants.
Those living in private housing estates have also suffered at the hands of this council. Public lighting and lack of proper planning were among the issues in many estates that were not addressed by the council.
Much of the positive work undertaken by New Ross Town Council was as a direct result of ideas raised by Sinn Féin in our "Blueprint for the Development of New Ross". The Sinn Féin team is ready to put innovative ideas before the next council.
We intend to address the bin tax issue. Sinn Féin believes that the unjust price rises over the last five years for bin collections were wrong and are being used to make money for the council. We will move to introduce a fairer system.
On the issue of healthcare in the South East, New Ross Town Council has remained silent. They have had nothing to say about the fact that we in New Ross do not have proper cancer treatment facilities in the South East. The council remain silent while Wexford General Hospital is being downgraded by stealth. Sinn Féin have campaigned on both the above issues and we will use our positions on New Ross Town Council to increase the pressure on government to safeguard and upgrade health care in the South East.
Sinn Féin are standing three candidates in this election to New Ross Town Council. They are: Bernie Murphy, Gerard Barron and Cllr John Dwyer. This Sinn Féin team will present a formidable challenge to the establishment. Working closely together over the course of the last four years, Bernie, Gerard and John have looked on in frustration as the resources of the town council were put to full use promoting Fianna Fail councillors while the real issues of concern to so many of the town's people were brushed to one side.
Sinn Féin are asking you to vote first preference for the Sinn Féin candidate of your choice and in order to ensure that we get our team elected, we are asking you to continue your preferences to the other two candidates.
A strong voice in New Ross council chamber will allow Sinn Féin Councillors to pursue the following priorities:
- We will campaign to dramatically increase the amount of money allocated to housing maintenance and repairs
- We pledge to vote against any budget which does not introduce a fairer payment for waste collection.
- Neglect of our children's schools will be highlighted at every opportunity. Sinn Féin will use every opportunity to ensure the government invests in our children's education.
- Sinn Féin candidates have led the campaign to upgrade Wexford General Hospital. As elected Councillors we will be in a position to step up that campaign.
- The lack of progress in tackling dereliction will be a priority for Sinn Féin councilors.
- Sinn Féin pledge to work to change the current disgracefully high rents being paid by many tenants of the town council.
- Speed control in all estates as well as the provision of traffic wardens and pedestrian crossings at Michael Street, St Josephs and St Canices schools, will continue to be priorities for Sinn Féin.
Vote Sinn Féin 1, 2, 3 in order of your choice
