They want to encourage people not to give Deputy Kehoe any preference votes, which helped get him elected the last time round. The protesters are former members of the Air Corps who belong to the Air Corps Chemical Abuse Survivors (ACCAS) who claim they suffer illnesses due to their exposure to toxic chemicals while working for the Air Corps. Meanwhile, the Defence Forces officers' representative association has also criticised the government over its plans for defence forces accommodation blocks. While Minister Kehoe announced a €145m plan to upgrade accommodation over the next five years, critics say some of the packages contained previously announced projects. A spokesperson for Minister Kehoe said: “Minister Kehoe is focussed 100% on this election campaign and talking to people right across County Wexford about the issues that affect them and their families.”

Source: Irish Examiner January 29, 2020 18:33 UTC