EDDIE Punch (II) has entered the General Election race in Clare.
Three months on from contesting the European elections, Cratloe farmer Punch has thrown his name into the ring for a bid to be elected to Dáil Éireann as Independent Ireland’s candidate, it will be the first time the party contests a General Election in Clare.
Given that he used the slogan ‘there’s more to lreland than Dublin’ when it came to the European elections, it comes as no surprise that Eddie is pushing for more balanced regional development. “Of the 39 million passengers handled by Irish airports in 2023, 85% went through Dublin and just 5% through Shannon. This imbalance is devastating for tourism in Clare and the west of Ireland. We need strong voices in the Dáil to challenge the mindset that ‘Dublin is all that matters’,” he said.
Punch polled 20,751 first preferences in the European elections and was eliminated on the fourteenth count.
He expressed concerns about the overuse of hotel accommodations in Clare for refugees, arguing that this practice harms local businesses that rely on tourism. Additionally, he criticised the Ennis 2040 vision for its lack of consideration for the needs of local businesses, and he voiced skepticism about certain climate policies that he believes are impractical for rural Ireland. Punch stated that he is not against sensible win/win proposals for climate and environment but he feels that much of what is being driven by the current government is off the charts and makes no sense.
“We have spent the last few years with carbon tax being progressively hiked, being told to use public transport and in the past few weeks parents are exhausted fighting to retain a decent school bus service in Sixmilebridge, Cratloe and Newmarket-on-Fergus. There is a feeling that the government is focused on trying to fix the world’s problems, but cannot deliver something as simple as a bus service for school children, we return our focus on getting these important things right for parents and families and that is what I intend to do”.
On the challenges faced by the farming community, the ex General secretary of the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association stated, “The farming community is at their wits end with threats to end the nitrates derogation and cut the national herd. Farmers in Clare, like the rest of Ireland, are sick and tired of being led up and down the hill. They can’t plan for the future. If elected, I will not be found wanting in standing up for Irish farming, and for our food sector. It makes no sense to cut back Irish quality food systems and import food from outside the EU”.
He has represented the farming community in numerous national forums, including the National Economic and Social Council (NESC) and the National Economic Dialogue and held his ICSA role for twenty five years.
Cratloe based Punch holds an Honours Degree in European Studies from the University of Limerick and recently completed a Masters in Business Practice from the Irish Management Institute and UCC. He said, “I am running to give the people of Clare a choice—a choice for sensible change. Our country has been run based on Dublin demands and Green politics for too long. It’s time to bring balance and accountability back to government, with a focus on the needs of all citizens, especially those in rural areas”.
