First Independent Mayo last night announced that George O'Malley from Newport and Peter Jordan from Ballina would be running on a joint ticket for the political grouping. The two candidates were launched last night at an event in the Twin Trees Hotel in Ballina.
The four central planks of the two candidates' campaign will be (1 ) A 10 point plan of capital and infrastructure projects that will grow Mayo's local economy and be a game changer for inward investment in the county. (2 ) Highlighting The Taoiseach's and Fine Gael's lack of credibility nationally and locally, and Fianna Fáil's dismal record for the west as well. (3 ) Emphasising that it is in the interests of Mayo people that we have a strong independent TD, working with other independents who may have the balance of power and who can end the two tier economy and ensure regional imbalances are addressed. The status quo is not in Mayo's interest. (4 ) The opportunity the Brexit debate can give us to effect positive reform that benefits Ireland and the rest of Europe.
In a joint statement from both candidates they outlined their key issues for the election ahead saying: "Mayo has suffered for more than 50 years at the hands of incompetent and ineffective TDs and ministers. That was all about to change in 2011, the year seen by most Mayo people as its golden opportunity. Having 'our own man' as Taoiseach was considered a racing certainty and a bright future was within reach — the messiah was coming.
"What 'our man' has presided over since then for Mayo is nothing short of scandalous and begs the question "could things have been much worse"? Enda Kenny offered us his five-point plan. Add to this the further asphyxiation of Mayo through the closure of Garda stations, national schools, rural post offices, and now the attack on of rural GPs and clinics as well.
“Consider too the imposition of the penal double taxation brought in under ‘our man’s’ watch, property tax and Irish Water, regardless of ability to pay, and bear in mind that all road tax collected in Mayo in 2015 went straight into Irish Water. And now the Office of the Ombudsman is prevented by this Government from investigating customer complaints against Irish Water.
“Let us not forget the scandal of Justice Minister Alan Shatter TD, the Secretary General of that Department and an Taoiseach’s role in all of this. Reflect too on the functioning of NAMA and the Siteserve controversy and ask ‘is this the best our TDs, ministers, and Taoiseach can do?’”
According to First Independent Mayo the reason for running candidates is to get as close as possible to the decision making at government level, working with other Independents to maximize leverage to redress regional economic imbalances, to ensure the ring-fencing of the necessary funding for their key priorities for Mayo. The priorities that First Independent Mayo are looking to see come to fruition are (1 ) Designate the area around Ireland West Airport Knock as a Strategic Development Zone ensuring that it becomes a key economic driver for the western region. (2 ) Create a rural renewal tax incentive area within a 10km circle of IWAK to halt the chronic rural decline. (3 ) Provide high quality broadband to rural areas in Mayo. (4 ) Reopen the Western Rail Corridor to provide a freight and passenger rail link between Athenry and Sligo via Claremorris, Kiltimagh, Swinford and Charlestown. (5 ) Rapid refurbishment of replacement for N26 to be called N5 North and develop the preferred ring route road around Ballina which is the fourth largest population centre in Connacht. (6 ) Complete upgrade of R312. (7 ) Dramatic increase in budgets for SME support and completely overhaul the application/approval process. (8 ) Construction of a deep-sea port for Mayo. (9 ) Development of on-shore high value bio-processing of marine waste (10 )A gas-fired power station at Bellacorick.
