Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)

The practical way forward would be to hold the three by-elections on the same day.

Getting back to today's motion, I call on the Government to put the rights of the people of Waterford before its narrow interests by accepting this motion. Fianna Fáil and the Green Party know that the judgment of the electorate of Waterford will be very harsh on their performance in Government so they are running away. They can run but they cannot hide. Within two years they will have to face the music anyway. If the motion is not agreed, the Government will be continuing a grave injustice against the people of Waterford. Waterford and the south east have been neglected by the Government, in particular in the area of job creation.

There is a crying need to upgrade Waterford Institute of Technology to university status. The model proposed is for the university of the south east. The Government continues to prevaricate on the application of Waterford Institute of Technology. The south east is the only region without a university. In order for the region to get its share of the new type employment that will come on stream, the research and development capacity of Waterford and the region must be brought in line with the rest of the country. Nothing is more important than university status for the future prosperity of and job creation in Waterford and the region. The Government is afraid to face the electorate of Waterford on this and many other issues.

The way the Government has failed the people of Waterford and its lack of joined-up thinking is illustrated by the ongoing crisis due to the chronic lack of courtrooms in Waterford. There is a proposal for the extension of the existing courthouse but this cannot progress unless the fire station is demolished and a new modern fire station is constructed on a different site. There is a singular lack of urgency and co-ordination in regard to moving these projects forward.

The Government failed the Waterford Crystal workers. The constituency of Waterford needs jobs and needs to be listened to by the Government. The Government will choose not to face the people so that a new Deputy can be elected for the constituency. Waterford will continue to be deprived.

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