Athlone Town Mayor has reflected upon a “dark day” for the growth town as the newly formed coalition Government failed to secure political representation on a national level following the election of Senators to the House of the Oireachtas.
“It was a dark day for Athlone on Saturday as the new three party Government decided to finally consign Athlone to a five year term without a resident voice at a national level.
“Between the three parties, Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and The Green Party, they had 11 opportunities to select a Senator from Athlone but chose not to do so.
“By doing so, they have chosen to sideline Athlone in a stark and regrettable way, the largest urban provincial town in Ireland not to have a resident voice of any kind in the corridors of power.
“As a result of the General Election in February and the Seanad Elections in March, Athlone was left with no resident national public representative. The incoming Government has the right to select 11 Senators to join the new Senate, which they did on Saturday evening.
“Willing and able candidates was certainly not the issue, there are very capable and strong people in Athlone from all three parties who would have served Athlone and the country extremely well if given the opportunity.
“You would have to wonder if Athlone’s status as a regional growth centre is being taken seriously by the powers that be, only time will tell,” the Town Mayor asserted.
