Has Government interest in Waterford reached a plateau?

Last week at a clandestine, undercover meeting over the border, the news about the Waterford City Boundary Review extension decision was strategically leaked. Once again via the source of instant information that is social media. To be more precise, I read the news across a number of Facebook posts and of course the local Kilkenny newspapers had their “Scoop”. In no small part, due to the rumbustious nature of those Cats supporting TDs and Councillors, who have been very, very vocal and noisy on this topic.

The issues surrounding the expansion of the City, to a size of reasonable and significant consequence, are very complex, emotive and “Raw!” The fact is, that for the South East to grow and have any chance of competing with the other regions of Ireland, our City must be of much greater scale, than the one we currently recognise today.

For far too long we have been told that Waterford will be that “Gateway City” to the South East region. Despite report after numerous report, that goal is still as far away as ever. In spite of Minister after Government Minister promising to deliver for Ireland’s Oldest City, our competitive towns and cities steal yet more and more ground from under our feet, in relation to the greater good of the South East.

Last Monday, 3^rd April 2017, the recommendations from the recent controversial review committee were NOT going to be implemented by the current Government. The report findings would be ignored and some “Fudge”, promising fields of green, would be put in place to appease the Deise natives.

This independent body, which we were constantly assured was set up with no political allegiance, came to the self determined conclusion, that Waterford City must be helped to grow and expand. That growth is necessary to assist the region to compete and attract future investment.

Now, this Government’s record with report findings for Waterford, is to say at the very least extremely woolly. We have one report being slickly and secretively rejected. Partly I fear, due to the political Grand National that is a looming FG leadership challenge. Only one report being implemented, despite the deep rooted flawed foundations, realising a single unacceptable outcome.

For the sake of protecting their identity we will call the two protagonists Simon C and Simon H!

These two men have just delivered the most bizarre of all Government spin. One, Simon H, has taken the Herity Report and stuck steadfastly to ALL of the findings and recommendations. Stating that the report was independent and as such must be adhered to, because as a Government Minister he cannot interfere with these outcomes!

Yet his colleague, Simon C, has taken another independent report and applied his OWN recommendations! Completely ignoring “The free from outside control and not subject to another's authority” independence of the Boundary Review Committee!

I suspect the outcome of both these reports, has far more to do with political posturing, than the good of the people of Waterford and the South East! Both FG and FF see the 5-deputy Kilkenny/Carlow, as a potential three-seat constituency. Thus these main stream heavyweight parties, view the Kilkenny/Carlow constituency, as a far more important political battleground than Waterford. Probably returning a similar political map after the next general election, as we always do?

With Simon C trying to reach his own political summit, leadership of FG and ultimately an Taoiseach for Ireland. He needs to find supporters, keep them sweet and there just so happens to be, two of his own good men across the River Suir. In addition he should need the help of some allies from this side of the river. Alas, that particular political “Scarlet Pimpernel”, holds court with no man, just doing his own thing – so no guarantees where the swing vote from Waterford will eventually go.

With these sorts of odds, is it any wonder that Simon C is hedging ALL his bets? There will be no need for him to cash out early, as he appears to have all the aces in his hand.

“Flip-flopping” report findings, our new politics!!!! 

Programme for Government OR Room 101?

Remember this?

Room 101 originated as a BBC Radio Five programme in the early nineties and was hosted by the comedian Nick Hancock. The concept eventually moved to mainstream BBC Television and the show is currently being hosted by comedian Frank Skinner. There are also the endless repeats being shown on a “continuous loop” on the satellite channel Dave.

Room 101 was of course inspired by the novel “Nineteen Eighty-Four”, author George Orwell, where ALL the worst things in the World would be gathered, placed and forgotten.

The current BBC series allows us to view an endless stream of celebrates, in a panel of three, placing all manner of objects, themes, ideas, people etc into Room 101, having discussed the merits for inclusion with host Frank Skinner. As a “dip-in viewer” I have often wished that Skinner had placed all three celebrates into Room 101!

Over the years there has been an eclectic mix of “things” that have ended up in Room 101 including; the FA Cup, Postman Pat, Ferrero Rocher, Margaret Thatcher, cyclists, golf, novelty underpants, hangovers, moths and even poor old Bono!

Clearly then, Room 101 has become synonymous with somewhere to place “things” that clearly do not matter to you, me and our TDs.

I have a sense that the new Programme for Government will become Ireland’s very own Room 101!

There has been great interest in the new Government’s minestrone soup of a Programme for Government, which can be viewed on the good old interweb, through various sources. This huge 155 page document, aptly titled “A Programme for a Partnership Government” outlines ALL and I mean ALL of the proposed plans that will be carried out during the term of this 32^nd Government.

In realty this is just a big wish list or our TDs equivalent of a Dear Santa letter!

Sarah's cats.

I recall a meeting in the Granville Hotel many, many years ago when I was CEO of Waterford Chamber. The event’s Top Table was Enda Kenny and a young (younger) Simon Coveney, with George Lee conducting the proceedings. You will recall that George Lee was trumpeted by FG as the new kid on the block, the new face of FG’s Irish politics and would be the man to shape the future of FG economic policy to ensure stability and drive the country’s recovery!

In the end the dinosaur that is Irish party politics made him resign; “For the last nine months I've done my best to have an influence on that (FG economic policy), but I have to confess that I have virtually no influence, no input whatsoever.”

At this meeting we were promised in FG’s Programme for Government, should they be elected in 2011 to the 31^st Dáil, that amongst other “things”, Waterford Hospital would be suitably resourced and funded as a regional hospital, Waterford Institute of Technology would get “University” status, the south east would be supported for economic development etc etc.

In reality ALL of these promises were nothing but election husting’s spin and when push came to shove everything that was promised for Waterford was literally dumped into Room 101!

I fear that we are yet again reliving that Groundhog Day, and strangely enough the same people are promising to deliver for Waterford, yet their track recording in doing this is, well to be polite, diabolical! Yes, we have had some small wins, and these have been small wins, but the big ticket items have just not been delivered.

Who would you put in Room 101?

Proof that this Government is NOT serious about delivering for Waterford and the South East is the complete and utter lack of a FULL ministerial role for a south east TD. The last ministerial portfolio for Waterford was Cullen and our current crop of TDs are not even making the team sheet.

Rest assured that our Dublin centric TDs are lining up plenty of entries for Waterford and the south east for Room 101 – I just hope that our big ticket items do not end up back in there once again!

“Peace for our time!”

"It is peace for our time" the headlines would read.

As the country moves ever so slowly towards a minority Government, we have in recent days, seen much trumpeting from John Halligan TD and the promise of 24 hour cardiac care at University Hospital Waterford.

In addition, it has been indicated from Halligan, that there will also be good news for Waterford in terms of increased funding for Waterford Regional Airport. Changing the criteria to allow Waterford Institute of Technology to pursue a solo bid, if they so desire, for a change in status to a “Technological University”.

Like all these promises the devil really is in the detail and whilst Halligan has laid ALL his cards, face up, on the table he insists that 24 hour cardiac care is only a few “hearts beats” away. However, we have not actually seen sight of the piece of paper that will commit this rag tag minority Government to deliver what was one of Halligan’s election promises. 

Lessons from history show us that people in the public eye, particularly political figures, must be extremely careful what they say and promise. I can now see Waterford, holding its collective breath, waiting for that embossed, letter headed piece of paper from Minister Noonan and the Department of Finance, committing the circa €10,000,000, identified by Halligan, to finally deliver the much needed 24 hour cardiac care to University Hospital Waterford.

I do hope that Halligan has not made the cardinal error of “Doing a Chamberlain”!

On 30^th September 1938 the then British Prime Minister, returned to Heston Airport waving an A4 sheet of paper and declaring that after direct talks with Chancellor Hitler that there would be “Peace for our time”. History has shown that the letter signed by Adolf Hitler was nothing more than a tactic to stall for more time and to keep the Allies out of a direct conflict with Germany.

 All smiles & Benny Hill!

Chamberlain saw this as an opportunity to deliver for the people of Great Britain and boy oh boy did this back fire in the most monumental way. It is interesting to note that the plane in which Chamberlain retuned to London had an identification mark of G-AFGN – there are a few anagrams in there somewhere!

I know that Halligan has without doubt, had to wrestle with his conscience, consider his own values and those of his vast electoral base to have to “jump into bed” with a minority FG Government. It even looks likely that he will be given a seat as a Junior Minister when all the dust has settled. This decision I am sure does not sit kindly with many of his voters and in fact the vitriol across the various social media platforms last week was nothing short of shocking.

Many, I am sure are feeling betrayed and no matter how much spin is put out by the Halligan Camp, there will be some substantial fallout in terms of future voter support.

The caveat is of course, that if Halligan has secured the circa €10,000,000 funding and more importantly a proper structured plan to give the 24 hour cardiac care longevity for the South East, then we must all applaud his efforts and the labours of the many people lobbying hard in the background.

Halligan will no doubt be hoping for extra letters securing additional airport funding and that a resolution to the university issue will also be forthcoming.

TD Halligan

Time will tell, if the recent hyperbole of promises will actually be delivered for Waterford and I for one hope that the A4 embossed letters are imminent, so that we can start planning Waterford’s future.

If these three election hot potatoes are delivered by Halligan, before the end of the summer, then he must be applauded by everyone and even more so if he has had to make the impossible decision of, “Sleeping with the enemy”.

I do hope that the letters Halligan will eventually wave to the assembled media hordes, will deliver and there will be no anagrams in sight!