Way to go, Joe?
WHILE THE PUBLIC WELCOMED BEHAN'S DECISION TO RESIGN FROM FIANNA FAIL HIS 'BEST FRIEND' WAS SHOCKED AND DISAPPOINTED
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Wednesday October 22 2008
DISAPPOINTMENT and shock was the reaction of Deputy Joe Behan's 'best friend in politics' to his decision to resign from government last Friday.
While Deputy Behan has stated that he has received the support of some Fianna Fáil members, Councillor Pat Vance and good friend of the Deputy was not one of them.
'I think the method he chose to get his point across was not the best one and I think there were other options rather than breaking links with the party,' said Cllr .Vance on the resignation.
Cllr. Vance went on to say that he could understand and support Deputy Behan's view in relation to the medical card but this was no reason to resign as he is sure a compromise will be met.
While fellow members of the party may not support his resignation there has been an outpouring of support from members of the public with Deputy Behan being inundated with emails, text messages and phone calls from his constituents congratulating him on his decision.
'I have had elderly residents in Bray ringing me and crying down the phone to congratulate me on my resignation.'
Labour Councillor John Byrne publicly announced his admiration for Deputy Behan and the 'very tough decision' that he had to make.
'I have known Joe for a very long time and one of his main strengths was always his concern for people. This concern is evident in his decision to resign,' said Cllr Byrne.
On Sunday afternoon Deputy Behan accompanied his wife Agnes to mass at St. Fergal's Church where she was presented with a gift as acknowledgment for her service at St. Fergal's School.
While the Deputy avoided stealing the limelight from his wife many of the parishioners approached him and shook his hand for standing up against the governments decision on the medical card and increasing class sizes.
'It was a very courageous and brave act that Deputy Behan took and I would like to thank him for making the right decision and for making such a strong stand against something that will greatly affect many of my parishioners,' commented Father John O'Brien Parish Priest of St. Fergal's.
