Iron Lady an inspiration for West Clare Task Force?

FORMER British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was invoked this week as a figure whose actions in 1982 could inspire the West Clare Task Force, many of whose members criticised the group at Monday’s West Clare Electoral Area meeting in Ennis.

While some councillors pointed to the opening of Loop Head Lighthouse to the public in 2011 as an example of the West Clare Task Force’s influence, they accepted that the task force, established in July 2010, needs to produce additional visible and coherent results.

 

However, Councillor PJ Kelly sought solace from the manner with which Britain dealt with Argentina’s invasion of the disputed Falkland territory 30 years ago.

“I’m always naturally sceptical about the phrase ‘task force’ because the only one that was ever successful in my view was Maggie Thatcher when she hit for The Falklands. She had a mission, she decided what she was going to do. She went there and got it done, within a time frame,” he mused.

Councillor Kelly then returned to firmer ground and suggested the West Clare Task Force members, which includes all six Kilrush Area county councillors, should work a bit harder.

“Two years ago, I said it was about time we walked the walk instead of talking the talk. We have slipped up and I think we will have to review it. We have general ideas. It would be great if we got there but we’re not too sure where we’re going,” is how he summed up the task force’s laissez faire attitude.

Councillor Christy Curtin, who was task force chairman when the group was established, concurred. “We need to set targets. We’re not creating the jobs but we have to create the environment. We also should target agriculture and marine culture, they are areas that we should be exploiting. So I’d like them to be placed on the agenda for the next West Clare Task Force meeting,” Councillor Curtin demanded.

Noting the economic boost afforded to West Clare by the opening of Loop Head Lighthouse, Kilkee Councillor Pat Keane acknowledged that the task force needs to review their progress to date, though he felt they have achieved some results.

“We do need to review and see where we’re going. When the task force was set up a number of years ago, some people thought it was only a talking shop but I think we’ve proven different and hopefully it will go from strength to strength,” he said.

Outgoing committee chairman, Councillor Oliver Garry, told the meeting that the task force hasn’t achieved much over the last 12 months, aside from the lighthouse opening.

“We had a couple of meetings during the year and work is ongoing on that. Unfortunately, we have very little to show for it so far this year but I think we are going on with tourism signage for the West Clare area. I think that’s one of the main areas we have developed. We have to promote tourism within the area,” he insisted.

In July 2010 the six-point task force plan undertook that some of the half-dozen aims would be achieved inside 12 months.

However, the report, which was launched by the then Minister for Defence Tony Killeen, made no reference to the specific number of jobs that the blueprint may help to create. It did indicate though that if the six ideas were implemented, employment would be created as a result.

One of the proposals was to establish a Kilrush-based West Clare Tourism Centre, which would act as a one-stop shop for tourism in the region. Kilrush Town Council was described in the report as the ‘lead agency’ with regard to the establishment of the tourism centre.

In the report, Kilrush Town Council was also given responsibility for the provision of tourism information boards in West Clare, the provision of a telescope at Loop Head and the marketing of historical sites.

Clare County Council undertook to head up a two to five-year plan to develop Loop Head Lighthouse in Kilbaha as a major tourist attraction. Areas of potential that were to be worked on included the provision of parking and road maintenance at the Bridges of Ross and shore-based dolphin watching at Loop Head, along with designated walking, cycling and hiking options. Amongst the other proposals is to carry out an evaluation of existing business accommodation in West Clare and to market the premises to prospective entrepreneurs.

Meanwhile, Councillor Garry feels individuals and small companies should be encouraged to develop their own businesses.

“The fact that LEADER has increased its grants from 50% to 75% this year for private and community development is a great thing. It encourages young people to get involved in small enterprise and that is the way to develop our area.

“We have very little to show in the big enterprise area. One of the disappointing aspects of this year was the fact that Shannon LNG won’t be going ahead on the Shannon Estuary.

“That’s very disappointing that that decision has been put off for another two years by the regulator,” he said, suggesting that 1,000 construction and 300 full-time jobs could have been created if Shannon LNG had been given the go-ahead to establish a company on the Kerry side of the Shannon Estuary.