This article is from page 7 of the 2007-09-18 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 7 JPG
KILRUSH Town Councillors have been accused of “not caring about” the Shannon crisis, and the loss of Aer Lingus’s London-Heathrow slot from the airport.
Mayor of Kilrush, Tom Clyne (Ind) said he is aware of comments that the councillors have been very quiet on the issue and “did not speak out in public’.
At this month’s meeting of the town council, Cllr Marian McMahon- Jones (FG) said while the council may not have been there as a unit, members of the council did attend.
‘Maybe we should have had a state- ment out by now,” she said.
“T think we as a council need to be a lot more aware and a lot more vo- cal,’ she added.
Independent councillor Deirdre Culligan told the members, “It has been noted that councillors were TPO Basso be roa
In addressing the meeting, Cllr Tom Prenderville (FF) said, “a lot has been said about the issue. We at- tended a lot of meetings, we are four- square behind the airport.”
“We are a sinking ship and there are people out there who can throw us a life raft and that is the Govern- ment,” said Cllr McMahon-Jones.
“Tf small councils, big councils and our politicians stand united, disre- garding political parties, and call
Bertie out, we could force his hand,” she said.
She said it was time that the TDs and Government stood up and were counted.
“They were not elected to roll over for Aer Lingus. They are elected to represent the people.”
Fianna Fail councillor Liam Looney agreed with his council colleague.
“T am beginning to question my own membership of Fianna Fail,” he told the meeting.