16 July 1997
The quite man of Mayo politics answers his critics
by Tom Kelly
Dr. Tom Moffatt, the quite man of Mayo politics, has silenced the critics by his appointment as Minister of State at the Department of Health.
The popular Ballina-based Fianna Fail Deputy fulfilled a personal goal when he was appointed to the cabinet in the health portfolio with special responsibilities for food safety and older people.
Dr. Moffatt, who was first elected to Dail Eireann in 1992, came under attack in some political quarters because he was not seen to be vocal enough on behalf of the people of North Mayo.
There were even suggestions within his own party following his re-election last month that he would be replaced before the next General Election, claims which infuriated Dr. Moffatt and were subsequently denied by leading party officials.
Now his junior ministerial appointment will demand a fresh assessment by the cynics who questioned his potential.
Aged 57, Dr. Moffatt is so proud of Ballina that he named his residence after the town. Married to the former Patricia Cashman, they have a family of two sons and three daughters.
He grew up in a family with a nationalist background and always had a strong interest in politics before becoming actively involved in the Fianna Fail party.
Even though he was enjoying a very successful career as a general practitioner and businessman, he was honoured when the party asked him to stand for election in Mayo East five years ago following Sean Calleary's decision to step down.
A man with a deep interest in Irish history, he has long admired the ability and potential of party leader, An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern. Dr. Moffatt insisted he would not be carried way by his appointment when he spoke on Castlebar Community Radio on Thursday afternoon.
"My feet will remain firmly in the ground. I am looking forward to the challenge presented to me. As a person with a medical background I have a good foundation on which to start."
It is hoped he will use his influence to ensure an early start to phase two of Mayo General Hospital while also campaigning for greater facilities for the elderly in the county.
POSITIVE ATTITUDE
His responsibility for food safety could bring him right to the forefront of the national scene if there is a repeat of the recent scares which occurred in the food industry.
Dr. Moffatt is known to frown upon 'the beal bocht' mentality which exists in many sections of the Mayo community.
He has spoken on a number of occasions about the need to get away from the attitude of crying and 'doing ourselves down', as he put it.
He believed if Mayo is to prosper in the future, it will only prospect with a positive attitude. Dr. Moffatt has an answer for those who claim that he does not make his voice heard loudly or frequently enough.
He said: "I don't believe in talking just for the sake of talking. I was not elected to keep the local media supplied with comments. I was elected to do everything I could for the people of the area."
Dr. Moffatt was unfortunate insofar as there was a change of Government after his election in 1992.
"If I had been a Government party TD before now, I would have been able to achieve more."
Now he is in a stronger position than ever before. And his supporters firmly believe he will come of age during the new administration.
His return to Mayo in his ministerial merc on Thursday was low key. Dr. Moffatt wanted it that way in view of the sad announcement earlier in the day that the Asahi plant in Killala was closing down with the loss of over 300 jobs.
