“Abandoned by Fianna Fáil, now Blaney knows how the rest of Donegal feel” – Chris MacManus 
 
“Fianna Fáil have drifted away from rural Ireland since their marriage with Fine Gael” according to Sinn Féin MEP and European Election candidate Chris MacManus. “They have lost any sense of their identity, so on some level I can understand Niall Blaney’s frustration at his party’s direction. My question would be why did it take his involvement in an election campaign to realise just how far Fianna Fáil have actually drifted.”
 
Speaking from Ballybofey on Saturday evening MacManus said, “When I speak to Fishing communities and farmers here in Donegal they feel completely abandoned by this government but particularly by Fianna Fáil. People here had rightly expected more from a Donegal Fianna Fáil Minister with the portfolio for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, but that hasn’t materialised and people are understandably angry and frustrated by this government. The government’s handling of the defective blocks crisis is another example of that. When Niall Blaney says Fianna Fail is effectively giving up on representation for Connacht and the border counties I completely agree.” 
 
“This hasn’t happened overnight though. For decades the Northwest and the wider surrounding region has been forgotten by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.” According to MacManus, “That is why addressing regional imbalance and reversing rural decline are my main priorities. We need MEPs from the Northwest to stand up for the Northwest. Our region deserves so much better.”
 
“Lagging”, “caught in a development trap”, “in transition”. These are just some of the official terms now attached to the West and Northwest of Ireland. For far too long, Governments have neglected our region and ignored its decline. From closures of essential services to false promises of investment. I believe we deserve better.”
 
“Our region has so much potential if given the opportunity. We need ambition and vision to ensure that communities across the West and Northwest can thrive.”
 
MacManus concluded, “I want our region to receive it’s fair share and I will not tolerate our people being treated as second class citizens. I have hosted numerous public meetings about regional imbalance and rural decline across our region here in the Northwest and I’ve engaged with many people, so I understand what needs to improve and how we can do it. Sinn Féin will not forget Donegal the way other parties have.” ENDS