SHANNON AIRPORT’s importance to the region has flown into the election discussion thanks to one Independent candidate’s appearance on RTÉ.
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Day twelve of the election campaign saw Eddie Punch appear on RTÉ in a special midweek edition of The Week In Politics where he used the platform to advocate for Shannon Airport. He criticised the “Dublin driven debate of lifting the passenger cap and Shannon has been left behind”.
Punch also called for efforts to be drawn up to encourage construction workers back from Australia to help accelerate the building of houses while he highlighted the impact of pyrite in the county.
RTÉ coverage for candidates has been common with Mid-Western Correspondent Cathy O’Halloran interviewing female candidates, Cllr Rita McInerney (FF), Cllr Donna McGettigan (SF), Violet Anne Wynne (IND), Leonora Carey (FG) and Senator Roisin Garvey (GP).
The Clare Echo went to print and this week’s edition includes the views of all 20 candidates. Detailed interviews have been conducted over the past week.
Bulldozers for Blake’s Corner have been touted by Paddy Murphy (IND) who said he has received “a lot of positive reaction” for his views. “To those that objected I hear ye but I’m not listening”.
On a day when Ireland achieved its best ranking yet on the global emissions scale, Senator Roisin Garvey (GP) canvassed Crusheen, Ennis, Lahinch, Killaloe and Liscannor.
Senator Timmy Dooley (FF) was up early with a canvass outside Beckman Coulter at 06:50, a business which he described as “a real success story” and a sign that “this Government is delivering for rural Ireland”. He also attended a meeting with over 200 farmers in Ennis Mart on Wednesday evening.
Local authority housing schemes were opened in Sixmilebridge and Scariff with Deputy Cathal Crowe (FF), Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne (IND) and Cllr Joe Cooney (FG) in attendance. Cllr Cooney had “a massive crew” canvassing in Shannon including Cllr Tony Mulcahy (FG). Killaloe was the focus of Matthew Moroney’s (IND) canvass.
Policing measures are to increase in Sixmilebridge after Crowe organised a meeting at Shannon Garda Station involving gardaí and strands of the community. “I am hopeful that this meeting will see increased patrols of the town and emphasises to An Garda Síochána that Sixmilebridge is policed as a town as opposed to a small village”.
20,000 more people are working in Clare, Limerick and North Tipperary as per the CSO with the figure rising from 254,200 to 274,200 between September 2023 to September 2024. Carey welcomed an encouraging breakdown per sector. “Backing business is even more important in the years ahead as we face an uncertain international landscape. I also welcome the news that the number of women at work is the highest rate since records began”.
Clare FM’s election debate featured Crowe, Carey, Amanda Major (IND), June Dillon (AON), Michael Loughrey (IP) and Moroney.
