Sinn Féin to launch a major campaign on the regeneration of the west of Ireland
Sinn Féin Senator Pearse Doherty and Kerry North TD Martin Ferris will
tomorrow (Monday 12th May) launch a major campaign around the regeneration
of the West of Ireland. The title of the campaign is 'The West's Awake -
from Kerry to Donegal we demand our rights". They will be calling on all
political parties and organisations in the west of Ireland to come together
to agree a platform to ensure the survival of the West.
Senator
Doherty is producing an official report for the Oireachtas Committee on
Community, Rural and Gaeltacht affairs on 'What is required to develop the
West of Ireland". The report will be presented to the committee before
Christmas.
Beginning in Donegal on Monday Senator Doherty and
Deputy Ferris will be holding meetings in every county from Kerry to Donegal
to allow local communities to have their say. Among those they wish to meet
over the coming months are farming groups, local community development
organisations, GAA, Chambers of Commerce, Trades Councils, Postmasters and
postal workers unions, Gardaí, ICA, Macra na Feirme, youth groups and others.
During
the summer they also intend to hold public consultation meetings in towns
and villages across the west. Anyone who wishes to make a written submission
on what needs to be done to ensure the survival of the west should send it
to [email protected]
Senator
Doherty said:
"At the Sinn Féin Ard Fheis this year I spoke out
on the need for elected representatives from all parties and all
organisations representing the west of Ireland, from Kerry to Donegal to
come together to agree a platform to ensure the survival of the West.
"The
west of Ireland is suffering death by a thousand cuts. Recent years have
seen the loss of traditional farming, fishing and manufacturing jobs, the
closure and running down of public services, the withdrawal of public
transport and the closure of rural schools, shops, pubs and Garda stations.
It is time to fight back.
"People in the west of Ireland have a
right to share in the prosperity of the state. They have a right to a decent
job, have a right to proper transport links, a right to adequate public
services and a right to all of the amenities that allow you to live a full
life. But none of this will happen by chance.
"The government has
not made any serious effort to regenerate the west. The election of a
Taoiseach from rural Ireland is an opportunity for change. If everyone who
really cares about the West comes together and demands change we can put
pressure on the government to act. Together we can put the west of Ireland
at the top of the political agenda." ENDS
Campaign launches
will take place in the following counties in May.
12th Donegal
13th
Clare
16th Sligo/Leitrim and Roscommon
19th Kerry
22nd Galway
and Mayo