Michael McNamara (Clare, Labour)

I wish to express my opposition to the proposal from the Fianna Fáil spokesperson on local government, namely, that "The administrative area of the new Limerick Local Government Authority shall be extended to include the residential areas of Shannon Banks, Westbury, Carrig Meade and Athlundard ... and shall also include that part of the campus of the University of Limerick also in Co. Clare". That proposal was floating around for the lifetime of the previous Government and some Fianna Fáil representatives feigned opposition to it. It was one of the proposals which was defeated very early on in the lifetime of this Government and I am thankful for that. Not content with having proposed it and having seen it defeated, Fianna Fáil now proposes to reintroduce this proposal. I received a call this morning from Councillor Pascal Fitzgerald who represents that area and I can tell Deputy that there is very little support from any of the residents of that area for his proposal. The Deputy spoke about recognising the totality of Limerick city but I call for the totality of County Clare to be recognised for once and for all. This proposal was effectively put to bed only six months ago and now it has been raised again on the floor of this Chamber by the back door.

Deputy Collins will know from a predecessor of his - Gerard Collins, who was a TD for County Limerick - who is on the board of Dublin Airport Authority, which controls Shannon, the damage that has been done to County Clare by previous Fianna Fáil Governments. Not alone was Aer Lingus privatised by Fianna Fáil in order that it can now leave County Clare on a whim and not alone was Aer Rianta International-----

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