SINN Féin will today
launch a major campaign calling for the regeneration
of the west of Ireland from Donegal to Kerry.
The campaign 'The West's Awake - from Kerry to
Donegal we demand our rights' calls on all political
parties and organisations in the West to come
together to agree a platform to ensure the survival
of the region.
Sinn Féin Senator Pearse Doherty will later join his
Kerry North colleague, Martin Ferris, TD to launch
the campaign in Clare, Sligo, Leitrim, Roscommon and
Kerry with launches in other counties on the western
seaboard following in the weeks ahead. Inishowen
Councillor Pádraig MacLochlainn will also be
involved in the campaign and hopes to meet with a
cross-section of the community including farmers and
local chambers of commerce, the Gardai and members
of the GAA.
Senator Doherty explained the reasons behind the
campaign: "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."
Senator Doherty has produced an official report for
the Oireachtas Committee on Community, Rural and
Gaeltacht affairs called 'What is required to
develop the West of Ireland?' It will be presented
to the committee before Christmas.
He added: "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."
Meanwhile, during the summer, Sinn Féin also intends
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
pearse.doherty@oireachtas.ie Today's
Donegal launch takes place in the Clanree Hotel,
Letterkenny, at 11am. |
