REGENERATION:THE GOVERNMENT was accused of "betrayal" over the regeneration plan for Limerick in a speech by Cllr Maurice Quinlivan to the ardfheis.
Mr Quinlivan, whose legal action precipitated the resignation of former minister for defence Willie O’Dea, was greeted with prolonged applause and cheers by delegates. He said he had taken the case because he was “a decent person”, his family was “a decent family” and Sinn Féin was “a decent party”.
Regeneration alone could have delivered a stimulus to the economy of Limerick and put many people back to work. “Fianna Fáil are responsible for this abject failure to deliver for the people of Limerick once again.
“A project that has the potential to transform large parts of Limerick has now been reduced to a scheme totally reliant on the private sector, as the Government attempts to renege on its commitment to the people in Moyross, Southill, St Mary’s Park and Ballinacurra Weston.
“Leaving the project dependent on the private sector leaves no room whatsoever for optimism. This announcement clearly shows that the Government had no intention of delivering, and was cynically using people. This Government can find billions to invest in banks, but now tells us there is no money for the urgent needs of some of the most deprived communities in Limerick.” Mr Quinlivan said the promise of a brighter future had been sold out: “It now seems that all the reports, vision statements, master plans and presidential visits were little more than an elaborate charade.”
Kerry councillor Toiréasa Ferris said special interests got more attention than ordinary people in Leinster House.
“Our politics has become reactive rather than proactive – it chases public opinion rather than leading it, it seeks to conciliate the centre ground rather than setting out a vision and winning support for it.” She said it would be easy to say Sinn Féin was different, but added, “It is not our words that we will be judged on but our deeds.”