Gilmore to push regional development

THE arrival of Labour leader Eamon Gilmore to Ennis this week literally stopped traffic on the town’s main street.

Party supporters donned in their distinctive red jackets with ‘Gilmore for Taoiseach’ emblazoned on the back, their umbrellas open in the pouring rain, spilled out onto O’Connell Street as their party leader made his way through the town, pressing the flesh with locals. Tuesday’s visit, which included a stop in Killaloe, was his second to the county since the beginning of the general election campaign.
Speaking in Ennis, Mr Gilmore insisted there is a strong Labour team in the Mid-West, including Clare candidate Michael McNamara, and that voting Labour would see benefits for the region.
“If, after this election, there is a strong Labour team returned in the Mid-West region, I think the region will see action that it hasn’t seen in recent years,” he commented.
“I think there has been a lot of neglect in this region and nothing demonstrated that more than the way in which Fianna Fáil collaborated in the removal of the Heathrow slots and connectivity to Shannon Airport, which I think had a bad effect, not only on the airport but on the region.”
He also assured the future of Mid-Western Regional Hospital, Ennis under Labour. “I am very much aware of the difficulties that have arisen in relation to the transfer of services to Limerick. We have seen that Limerick has difficulties in coping with the demand from the area. I think as far as accident and emergency is concerned what would concern me is the distance, particularly from West Clare to Limerick. You are talking about very, very long distances if somebody has an emergency.
“The Labour Party has a plan to re-do our entire health service and that includes a complete new deal for hospitals. We see hospitals, such as Ennis hospital, to be able to compete for work right across the spectrum and under Labour’s health plan, first of all hospitals such as Ennis hospital will be protected and secondly services here will be developed.”
He outlined that the Labour Party sees the need for a strong regional policy for Clare and the Mid-West. “There needs to be a joined-up approach to regional development in this area, a joined-up approach that will factor in the importance of Shannon Airport. Not only for transport connection and its importance in terms of the attraction of tourism for the region and the connectivity it gives to the region but also the potential that it has to attract investment and to support and encourage business.
“We see a multi-layered approach to the regeneration and growth of the economy in the Mid-West, including food and agriculture production, tourism, transport and the attraction of industrial development, new industries and knowledge-based employment to this area.”
He stressed the importance of the agriculture sector in the future growth of the economy, saying the boom years saw “the eye taken off the ball” in terms of food production and agriculture.
“We know the world population is growing, we know that there is increasing consumer demand. This is a food-producing country. Our priority will be to protect the envelope of supports that are available to Irish agriculture from Europe and use the supports in the future to generate the maximum amount of employment and business activity from food production in this country.”
In relation to the party’s Labour candidate for Clare, Michael McNamara, Mr Gilmore said he is “confident” of his election as a Labour TD for Clare. “He has been doing very well on the campaign and getting very substantial support,” he said.
Commenting on Mr Gilmore’s second visit to Clare, Mr McNamara said, “Eamon launched my campaign in Shannon just over three hectic weeks ago. Our campaign is growing by the day and people are really listening to new ideas and plans so that the most vulnerable in society are protected and that we get our people back to work. There is a growing realisation that we can win a seat in Clare and Eamon Gilmore’s return visit gives our efforts a new shot of enthusiasm as we face the final stages of the campaign.”