ACCESS to services and disadvantages for the Clare public when it comes to health and disabilities were among the big issues put to General Election candidates on day seventeen of the campaign.
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Two hustings were organised and held on Monday.
Firstly, the Clare Leader Forum welcomed candidates to The Temple Gate Hotel. Facilitated by Dermot Hayes, the event saw members of the Forum press candidates on what they can do to improve disability services.
An exchange between Kevin Hassett (IND) and Clare PPN coordinator Sarah Clancy saw the duo clash over the Government’s spend on accommodating immigrants. Other candidates in attendance were Violet Anne Wynne (IND), Cllr Joe Cooney (FG), Dr Tom Nolan (FG), Leonora Carey (FG), Senator Timmy Dooley (FF), Cllr Rita McInerney (FF), Cathal Crowe TD (FF), Hilary Tonge (SD), June Dillon (AON), Eddie Punch (II) and Amanda Major (IND).
Health was the subject of the Monday evening hustings hosted by Dan Danaher of The Clare Champion and attended by 27 people. The HSML meeting with General Election candidates discussed the findings of research by Ennis woman Sinead Madden which concluded that a new 352 bed model four hospital with an emergency department on a greenfield site in Ennis is needed to deal with the county’s long-term growing health care needs.
Candidates in attendance included, Hassett, Wynne, Nolan, Carey, Dooley, McInerney, Crowe, Tonge, Punch, Major and Michael Leahy (IFP). Apologies were received by Cllr Cooney and Dillon while difficulties were experienced by the organisers in contacting some candidates.
Absent figures from both events included Senator Roisin Garvey (GP) and Cllr Donna McGettigan (SF). The duo both told The Clare Echo they had mix-ups on the date of the health hustings while Garvey was joined by Fionnan Sheehan of The Irish Independent for a morning canvass. Cllr McGettigan and her team focused on Ennistymon and Lahinch.
On the campaign trail, Carey met with businesses in Ennis town centre to gauge their views where she was joined by former Mayor of Ennis, Johnny Flynn. Members of her team took to Newmarket-on-Fergus.
Cllr McInerney appeared on Raidió Corca Baiscinn when she began the day in Kilkee. Home turf of Tulla was hit by Senator Dooley who began the morning in Shannon. Punch met with residents and businesses in Kildysart.
More endorsements were received by Cllr Cooney, he has the support of Cllr Mary Howard (FG), Cllr Joe Garrihy (FG), Cllr Bill Slattery (FG), Cllr Pat Burke (FG) and Cllr Tony Mulcahy (FG) with former Ennis Town Council councillors Mary Coote Ryan (FG), Tony Mulqueen (FG) and Anna Mulqueen (FG) rowing in behind him alongside Flynn.
There was no canvassing for Matthew Moroney (IND) who was sidelined with sickness.
Also appearing on the ballot paper in Clare are, Michael Loughrey (IP), Paddy Murphy (IND), Catriona Ni Chatháin (SOC) and Barry O’Donovan (RAB).
Monday morning also saw the latest Irish Times/Ipsos B&A opinion poll released. It showed a drop for Fine Gael to 19%, increases for Fianna Fáil to 21% and Sinn Féin to 20%. Carried out between Wednesday and Saturday, it had Independents, including Independent Ireland, down three points to 17%, Labour down one point to stand on 4% support, with Aontú unchanged on 3%.
Social Democrats are up two points to 6% while support for the Green Party rises by one point to 4%. People Before Profit-Solidarity are up one point to 3%. The poll was based upon 1,200 face-to-face interviews and its accuracy is estimated at plus or minus 2.8%.
