Duncan Smith: Constituency clinics are vital for many

Labour TD  says public representatives have an obligation to build a kinder politics but must not fear for their safety when they are working with the public

Labour TD Duncan Smith says many public representatives in Ireland have been concerned for their own personal safety during advice clinic hours. 

On Friday as news of the horrific murder of David Amess MP emerged, I was preparing for my weekend clinic hours. Constituency clinics are important for us as TDs, they offer us an opportunity to fully understand and engage with local community issues from amenities that may be needed, to jobs that need protecting, to visions for what the area could be like. But they are also of deep importance to the people who visit us on a range of issues.

In a constituency office, many people often come asking their representative for help as a person of last resort. The issues and requests vary and while some matters may be trivial, most are not.