If you look
at our neighbouring counties, the numerous political “Big hitters” across our
borders are well publicised. These TDs are aligning themselves for significant portfolios
in the next Irish Government, be that 2018, 2019 or 2020.
Waterford’s
long term hurling foe, Kilkenny, have a five seat constituency. Both FF and FG
will probably be targeting three seats in the “Black and Amber” county. Out to
the “Wesht” we have the super constituency of Cork. The two main parties of FF
and FG are well aware that this very large geographical area is a key battle
ground. Eighteen seats are available, across the various compass points, Tipperary
has five seats on offer and so does Wexford.
We are
quite literally surrounded, by much bigger political sharks and that in itself
is our greatest challenge. The main two parties and probably SF, albeit behind
closed doors, see the Déise as fish bait. Nothing too important and far enough
away from Dublin headquarters to ignore....most of the time.
We have
seen economic report after economic report shelved, or used to prop up wobbly
old desks or used as doorstops, in dusty corners of Leinster House. From a
rushed “Talk Talk” report, delivered by Richard Bruton and announced on WLR FM,
during “Winterval on Ice” outside broadcast, in December 2011, to the most
recent South East Economic reports. These have all come and gone. They have all
been launched with much razz-a-ma-tazz, promising a subheading of “This is the
one to fix our woes!” Yet many, many years later we are still stuck in the same
Groundhog Day.
Our latest
golden ticket promise of a “Proper” cardio review, has now been found wanting
in the terms of reference. These by all accounts having been by-passed by our
own TDs apparently, they are now arguing the terms need to be changed? The
bigger questions is, is it just the four Waterford TDs asking that these be
changed or are our political neighbours doing the same?
Surely,
4+5+5+5=19, makes a more powerful argument than the lone voices of four
individual party members?
Despite the
rhetoric surrounding the apparent working together on the “Three Sisters” bid.
I do wonder, will we ever persuade the likes of Kilkenny, Wexford and adding in
Tipperary, to really support the betterment of the region. The TDs in these
neighbouring constituencies see themselves as THE regional players and do not
wish to bow down to Waterford. They do after all have significantly bigger
population centres and more TDs in the Dáil.
So what of
Waterford’s political talent pool? Do we have the right people in Dublin to
persuade our hostile neighbouring tribes to support the Déise? Well at this
moment in time that would appear to be a big fat NO!
We have two
TDs in Government. One has decided for some unknown reason to become John
Ford’s “The Quiet Man” and our other Junior Minister the complete opposite. You
know you have made it as an Irish politician, when Mario Rosenstock satirises
your every move!
With two
TDs in Government you would think that we would have some chance of succeeding.
Alas, like so many of the reports that have gone before, their promise has been
fleeting and ephemeral.
Will
Waterford ever be a political force in Dublin? In truth that probably won’t
happen, unless we return three, yes three, main party TDs. Or better still four
from the same party! This of course, will not take place as we are voters of
habit. Come election time we tend to vote the same old way.
We do need
our current elected representatives to pull their socks up, whatever happens in
the next year or two. They must start meeting and dealing with our “Hostile”
neighbours.
They meet
regularly themselves. Maybe now is the time to invite a few more to their tea
party?
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