This article is from page 14 of the 2007-05-01 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 14 JPG
THE first shots of the general elec- tion were fired in Clare yesterday as candidates faced tough questions from the county’s Traveller commu- nity.
The majority of Clare’s Dail hope- fuls were in St Joseph’s Travellers’ Training Centre yesterday for a ques- tion and answer session organised by local travellers’ groups.
Candidates sparred on the main local issues such as the Ennis General Hos- pital and the Ennis water supply. RTE presenter Rachael English chaired the debate. The discussion covered a broad range of issues affecting Trav- ellers’ lives, including education and training, mental health, accommoda- tion and youth issues.
Afterwards, Julianne McDonagh, a member of the Primary Health Care eroup, said politicians should return for a second meeting after the elec- tion. “It was very valuable to meet the candidates but I think it is just as beneficial if they were to come back after the election to see if anything has changed.”
As expected, the issue of Ennis
General Hospital loomed large in the discussion. “It is vital that every eroup fights against the Hanly re- port. Whoever is elected, we’re going to have to fight together,” said Green Party candidate Brian Meaney
Fine Gael candidate Madeleine Tay- lor Quinn (FG) said she was commit- ted to retaining acute services.
“T will do everything to ensure that a six-bed unit is retained. That is the
minimum the women of Clare are entitled to.”
Joe Carey (FG) said a new hospital should be built instead of upgrading the current facility.
“Not a sod has been turned or a brick laid. If the protection order was removed on the hospital it could be sold. That would help finance the construction of a new building.”
This was strongly opposed by Jun-
ior Minister Tony Killeen (FF).
“I could play that game and go along with the popular sentiment but I have been around long enough to know that isn’t going to happen. I know that the €40 million extension will go ahead next year”.
On the issue of the water supply in Ennis, Labour candidate Pascal Fit- zgerald said nothing had happened after four years.
‘This issue certainly is being treat- ed with urgency by my colleague. We have already put in place the tempo- rary treatment facility,” said Fianna Fail Senator Timmy Dooley.
On providing services for young people, Fine Gael candidate Tony Mulcahy said that a survey carried out in schools in Shannon showed that 70 to 80 per cent favoured a cof- fee shop or a drop-in centre.
“The problem with Ennis is you need six or seven of these facilities,” he said.