Elected to the Seanad for Fine Gael in 1993, he won a Dáil seat in the 1997 general election and has been a sitting TD since. Now an Independent, he left Fine Gael in 2011 after he voted against the closure of the Roscommon County Hospital emergency department. He is a former Fine Gael spokesperson on immigration and integration.

As a father of young children, I know the challenges facing families today. I don’t just highlight problems, I propose practical solutions.

Get jobs to cross the Shannon! Key areas such as farming, agri-food, tourism & small businesses need to receive proper recognition & support.

Introduce a regular medical NCT for everybody. Identifying health problems earlier will take pressure off hospitals & improve patient care.