Peter Casey has confirmed he will not be standing as a candidate in the forthcoming General Election.
It was widely predicted the ‘Dragon’s Den’ investor would stand as an independent candidate in Donegal, but yesterday the businessman said he had decided against it, stating he didn’t believe it right to ‘con either the people of Donegal or himself’ that he could make a difference.
“There are big issues in the county that have been ignored by successive parties – not a mile of motorway, not an inch of a rail line, broadband that’s little better than smoke signals, massive unemployment, huge levels of emigration, poor health services and little or no cross border co-operation – and I don’t believe in either conning the people or myself into believing I could deliver real change if I stood as an independent. It wasn’t going to happen.
“I have spent my professional life believing when I do something I can make a difference, make things happen but the more I looked at things in Donegal the more I realised I would need to be in government to effect change.
“Now If I could get myself a seat at the cabinet table I would take it in the morning….and, believe me, things would get done.
The boss of the international executive search company, Claddagh Resources, added: “If the Taoiseach wants to offer me that, Minister for the Border counties and Cross Border Development, I’m available.”
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