Limerick mayoral candidate's focus is on health, housing and economic development
Fianna Fáil's nominee Dee Ryan formally introduced by Tanaiste Micheal Martin
IF THE MAYOR role was being advertised, Dee Ryan said she would be very busy getting her CV together and sending it in.
“The campaign is the cover letter. I'm going to be putting my top notes on what I see are the issues for Limerick but I hope that my experience, which I will set out for the people of Limerick to consider, will show that I'll be capable of tackling whatever comes up over the period of the five year term,” said Ms Ryan, of Castleconnell.
The mum-of-four was formally introduced as Fianna Fail’s nominee by Tanaiste Micheal Martin on the Harvey’s Quay boardwalk in Limerick city on Monday afternoon.
Ms Ryan said she is deeply honoured to be coming forward as the Fianna Fail candidate for the directly elected mayor of Limerick.
“It’s a role that I was involved in looking at from the very early stages of its creation and so I'm very familiar with what it can offer and what it means for Limerick. And my focus, should I be elected as directly elected mayor, would be on health, housing and bringing economic development into every part of the county.
“I would be reaching into my experience as CEO here of Limerick Chamber, working with the business community and my experience as a mother, living here in Limerick, to use all of that and to ensure that local government is as responsive and as positive and as strong as possible for Limerick,” said Ms Ryan, who has informed the board of Limerick Chamber of her resignation from her role as chief executive.
Mr Martin, who was flanked by Minister of State Niall Collins and Deputy Willie O’Dea, said: "We have someone here with really the right experience, background but also that sense of ambition and energy who will make a first class directly elected mayor for Limerick."
The Tanaiste said it is a very exciting moment for Limerick and for local democracy.
“It is one of the more radical departures in local democracy since the City Management Act came in many, many decades ago,” said Mr Martin.