'I will not give in to bullies'... Independent TD Toole defiant after voting confidence in Governement

“I will not give in to bullies,” was Deputy Gillian Toole's response to the online abuse she has been receiving since she voted with the Government in last Tuesday's no confidence vote in the Dail..

The Independent Meath East TD, who is part of the Independent group supporting the government, has come under a lot of pressure and online abuse following the vote.

“It would be easy to walk away and give into the bullies. A lot of people are very vocal, but they don't have answers. I knew I could get a personal kicking when things got tough, but when you are an independent you have to work with parties.

“We are currently getting a lot done. We are working on the an amendment to the Disability Act in relation to assessment of need and I worked very hard on the new pharmacy regulations. My biggest interest is in helping vulnerable people.

“If the government had collapsed on Tuesday, all that would be gone. Everything would have stopped. It would be at least another four months before anything would get done.

“Would Meath residents, or indeed anyone, have wanted an election when there is so much chaos in the world that we have no control over. Things are very volatile at the moment. We need steadiness and to work together to find solutions.

“I totally understand people's anger and frustration about the cost of fuel and the cost of living, but we are not hanging onto the status quo. The work we are doing is important.”

Deputy Toole said the criticism has been tough and she has been replying to people she knows.

“A lot of the abuse is from people I don't know, I think a lot of that is orchestrated,” she said.

“The Independent group were adamant that something had to be done about prices at the pumps. Home heating oil doesn't have any excise duty, just carbon tax and that has been postponed. Do we need the carbon tax anymore? People have changed their behaviour because of it.”

Senator Sharon Keogan, who had canvassed for Deputy Toole in her general election campaign in 2004, has indicated that she would run in the next election “as a true independent.”

Deputy Toole's response was “So be it. That is her choice. She is talking about a true independent, but when she was councillor she worked within the Fine Gael/Fianna Fail group. Independents have the ability to work with anybody and everybody, to achieve what is best for the people.

Senator Keogan had posted on social media; “I will be contesting the next Dáil election as a true independent in Meath East.”

“This is not an easy decision to make but I know I have to step up for my country, which I love,” she said.