Rural Independents may set up group to push community issues

A group of Independent TDs elected for constituencies in rural Ireland are to explore setting up an informal group that would press for more investment and improved services in rural communities, The Irish Times has learned.

Newly elected Cork South West Independent TD Michael Collins, from Schull, revealed he plans to meet a number of "like-minded independents" when he travels to Dublin later this week to attend Leinster House in advance of the new Dáil sitting on March 10th.

Mr Collins confirmed he had received a number of text messages from Independent TDs around the country who are not members of the existing Independent Alliance but who have similar concerns to his about their constituencies.

“There will be a meeting in Dublin during the week, and from that something could emerge - there are a lot of like-minded Independents elected from rural constituencies that have suffered as a result of the outgoing government turning its back on rural Ireland,” he said.

Mr Collins, who took the second seat in Cork South West where Fine Gael and Labour both lost seats, said he had stood on a platform of improved services and investment in West Cork and he would make no apologies for that when he takes his seat in the Dáil.

No approaches

He had to date received no approaches from anyone in either Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil to support either Enda Kenny or Micheál Martin for taoiseach, but anyone seeking his support would have to address his concerns for West Cork - such as improved road, broadband and mobile phone coverage.

“I had two words in my campaign, ‘West Cork’ - I am well aware that we need to elect a government and a good government to run the country, but there are issues that are of concern to me and the people who voted for me and anyone wanting my support will have to address those,” he said.

The recruitment of more home-helps to allow elderly people stay in their homes, as well as the provision of more community hospitals beds, were two other issues he felt strongly about, as were single farm payments for farmers and the criminalisation of fishermen for fishing offences.

Mr Collins said he would seek the reversal of former minister for the environment Phil Hogan's proposal that EU Leader Schemes be administered by county councils rather than on a community basis, and pointed out Dublin was now getting more rural development funding than Co Cork.

"Phil Hogan set about to abolish the Leader companies and put them in under county councils, and that's leading to the death of rural Ireland.

“ The EU told them it was wrong and that cost Fine Gael votes all over this country - and I need somebody to tell me they are going to stop it going ahead.

“Somebody said to me during the campaign ‘What about the national interest?’ Well, the national interest had absolutely no interest in West Cork. I have an interest in West Cork, and if somebody wants my vote they can come looking and sit down with me and hear what I want.

“If they turn their back on all these issues, then they’re turning their back on rural Ireland and I’m not going to support anyone who turns their back on rural Ireland.

“I’m not expecting people to perform miracles but if they say they will do it over five years, I’ll give them serious consideration.”