An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, will be greeted by reminders of the public opposition to water charges and distrust of controversial quango Irish Water when he visits Galway today.
The Taoiseach is in Galway today for a series of meetings, events, and openings. Although he plans to bring good news in the form of jobs announcements during his visit to Avaya Ireland, the controversy that has dogged his Government for the past few weeks will again be brought to his attention.
Right2Water Galway is calling on the public to join it for its latest protest which will take place at 2.30pm today outside the Revenue Offices in Fairgreen. The group is calling on protesters to bring along placards or creative props to “get the message across”.
“We are calling on the people of Galway to turn out to greet our visitor, so he can hear our message loud and clear,” says Dette McLoughlin, a R2W Galway organiser. “Scrap the water charges, dissolve Irish Water, keep water in public hands. We have to leave Enda Kenny in no doubt where Galway stands on the issue. His last few visits to Galway have been memorable for protest reasons. We want to give him the reception he deserves this time too.”
The Taoiseach arrives in Galway at 10am today to officially open Cólaiste Mhuirlinne, a new primary and seconday school campus in Doughiska. At 11.15pm he will arrive at Avaya Ireland in Mevue to make a jobs announcement; at 12.30pm he will be at Vulcan Solutions, where there is speculation that he will make another jobs announcement.
At 1.30pm the Taoiseach will attend the launch of the COPE Violence Shelter development plan on College Road; this will be followed by a meeting at the Chamber of Commerce, Flood Street, at 3pm for a meeting with business professionals regarding the Galway Harbour development and the Galway City Outer Bypass. There will also be the official opening of PSH Technology, Dublin Road, at 4.30pm.
During this evening the Taoiseach will be in Tuam at the Valeo Offices at 7.15pm, followed by a Fine Gael rally for the Galway/Mayo/Roscommon region at 8pm, also in Tuam.
