Madam, - Seán McKiernan (January 12th) made some interesting but mainly incorrect points about decentralisation and Co Cavan. The first point I must challenge is his assertion that this is "a 26- county nation". We are most certainly not; whatever limits exist on the State, the Irish nation is an all-Ireland concept and I refer Mr McKiernan to Bunreacht na hÉireann in this regard.
It is clear that on decentralisation Fine Gael is all at sea. The party is now in the habit of opposing everything the Government does and its attitude to this initiative is no different. However, Enda Kenny lacks the courage to say this because he knows that all around this country people support the idea; and though they are anxious to see the programme delivered they realise it will take time. I can assure Mr McKiernan and your readers that, despite Fine Gael opposition in the past, Fianna Fáil delivered on decentralisation for Cavan and will do so again when the Department of Communications, Marine & Natural Resources moves to Cavan Town.
Cavan has never been doing so well. There may be 2,184 unemployed, most of whom will only be in receipt of part payments due to part-time work, but it should be noted that the current edition of the Anglo-Celt has no fewer than four pages of job advertisements; this is a weekly occurrence. These employment opportunities range from general operatives to post graduate positions in a wide variety of enterprises.
Before the last general election Fianna Fáil said that Phase 2 of the Cavan By-pass would be delivered; it will open to traffic in early March, on time and on budget. We promised the Cavan College of Further Studies, now known as the Cavan Institute. It is under construction and almost complete. We said broadband would be available in the towns of the county; this vital service is now available in urban centres and the Group Broadband Scheme is bringing it to rural areas. The only people who lied to the electorate of Cavan prior to the last general and local elections were Fine Gael canvassers who said none of these projects could or would be delivered.
Mr McKiernan says he would like to be Enda Kenny's standard-bearer in the next general election. If that is the case he would do well to remember that in politics it is sometimes important to know when to say nothing. If Mr McKiernan has any hope of success the electorate must not remember Fine Gael's pathetic efforts in Government and their complete failure ever to deliver anything for Co Cavan. I am fairly confident that the electorate will allow Enda Kenny to join Mr Noonan in that growing club of Fine Gael has-beens. - Yours, etc,
JOHN PAUL FEELEY, PRO, Cavan Fianna Fáil Comhairledáil Cheantair, Cavan.