A Rosslare-based GP is to stand as an independent candidate in the general election in Wexford to highlight deficiencies in the health service.
Dr Liam Twomey, who has had no previous involvement in politics, says he is "realistic" about his chances of success but intends to go all out to take a seat.
Since he announced his intention last week to run, new people have come forward every day to offer support for his campaign, he told The Irish Times. As well as the state of the health service, he also intends to highlight "the neglect" of Wexford in general.
The 35-year-old doctor's entry into the race adds further uncertainty to what promises to be one of the most interesting Wexford campaigns for some time. Fine Gael has lost two high-profile candidates with the retirement of Mr Ivan Yates and Ms Avril Doyle's decision to concentrate on her role as a member of the European Parliament.
Fianna Fáil is banking on the addition of Wexford hurling manager Mr Tony Dempsey to win an extra seat for the party, while Sinn Féin candidate Mr John Dwyer is running an energetic campaign and claims to be in with a chance of taking the final seat. His party president, Mr Gerry Adams, is to visit the constituency next Wednesday.
Access to medical cards for the less well off, the lack of a radiotherapy unit for cancer patients in the south-east, and the level of services at Wexford General Hospital, are just some of the health issues Dr Twomey intends to raise.
Patients had to travel to Waterford, for example, for certain routine operations which should be available in Wexford. Orthopaedic patients had to travel to Waterford to have permanent casts put on. A CAT scanner, installed at Wexford hospital following a public fundraising campaign which raised £300,000 (€381,000), operates only from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Government's failure to extend breast cancer screening to the south-east was another example of the region losing out to other parts of the country.
"Wexford as a county seems to have been bypassed. We have no third-level institution. We have a fine port at Rosslare Harbour with loads of space around it and no industry. Then there's the rail service. If you downgrade the railway for long enough, then you make it uneconomic to replace it," Dr Twomey said.
"There is no reason why Gorey should not have the same level of infrastructure as Carlow, which is about the same distance from Dublin. If the railway and N11 road were upgraded to the proper standard, then investment would come flowing in to the region."
Dr Twomey, who runs a joint practice with his wife, Dr Liz O'Sullivan, has two sons aged 13 months and three weeks, but he is not prepared to postpone his run for the Dáil.
"There would never be a right time to do something like this. If you feel strongly enough about the issues, then you have to take the bull by the horns and go for it."
As a GP he believes he can do a certain amount about the health service, but as a politician he could "do a lot more". If elected, he would support any government which takes on board the health issues he is raising "and gives a fair deal to Wexford".