Jobs and Cross Border Shopping feature on Pat Kenny Show
Jobs, lack of investment, VAT differential, cross Border shopping, relocation of cancer services and why we were the solitary fish who swam alone in a sea of Lisbon Yes's featured in the 'Today With Pat Kenny' radio programme from Donegal Town last Thursday.
Broadcast live from Magee’s store in the town centre, with Myles Dungan standing in for Pat Kenny, putting it to Sinn Fin’s Senator Pearse Doherty and Fianna Fil TD Jim McDaid, “What is wrong in Donegal “. Both politicians immediately ‘got stuck into each other’ for over 20 minutes with jobs and VAT reductions the argument and insulting allegations the means of transmission when Dr McDaid referred to the the ‘No’ voters aligning themselves to “that motely crew” (Sinn Fin). This set the tone for a two hour debate of controversy among business, other politicians and media on the recession ills and concerns of this county.
“We need to listen to Donegal’s cries, with 20,000 people unemployed, no serious investment, infrastructure, or health protection, stripping away cancer services particularly from Sligo. Our voice is not being heard in the corridors of power”, said Senator Doherty.
He further cited the Tnaiste when questioned on cross border shopping as saying, “I don’t own a shop, the government doesn’t own a shop. It is up to customers to reduce prices. That is why shops are closing because of lack of support here in this and other Donegal towns.” One Donegal Businesswoman Roberta Gillen said she had four shops in the county, but now only one remains, and she has laid off 10 staff.
For Jim McDaid, “our main concerns,peripherality, no investment, sterling factors, the fact in the 1980/90’s, almost 54% of this county’s economy was built on the textile industry. These jobs have now gone to Eastern Europe or Africa. ”In 1992, there were 620 US companies in this country, only 16 along the border. Nobody wanted to invest here because of 30 years of war and devastation. Jobs are leaving this country”.
Tempers were brewing as Fine Gael TD Joe McHugh said the ‘Donegal No’ was a protest vote which incensed the crowd even more. “It was not a protest vote” was the reply. One lady indigently roaring at Deputy McDaid when he apologised for ‘Donegal’s No’ vote and where was he during the Troubles. In fighting form, the former Minister for Sport hit back, “look at the motely crew(Sinn Fin) you aligned yourselves to. I’ll tell you where I was, in surgery in Letterkenny General Hospital pulling shrapnel out of people that these people did damage to.”
Myles Dungan said, “You cannot describe Sinn Fin as a motely crew, one of the oldest political parties in Ireland.”
One of the features on the show was a proce comparison between two stores, Tesco here and Asda in Strabane, carried out by reporter Colm O Dullachin. He found a 19% price differential on a similar basket of groceries bought in Tesco Letterkenny, with Asda Strabane the cheaper and a whopping 37% difference in televisions at Argos Letterkenny and Derry, the lower.
Martin Howley of Killybegs’ ‘Atlantic Challenge’ said with the Common Fisheries Policy, vessels once fishing 320 days a year, now out between 80 to 90. With rising fuel prices and catch discards the fleet are now considering relocating to Chile. Donegal Town’s major manufacturer and employer, Lynn Temple of Magee & Co said his business is currently experiencing difficulties, citing VAT differentials and sterling devaluation. “This is the worst we have experienced since our founding in 1866, these are tough times, but we intend to keep going.”
When Myles asked, “Would Donegal have been better off in the 1920’s, as there had been a majority protestant population, as part of seven counties of Norhern Ireland”. Words of definite agreement coming from some in the crowd.
The media were left to take up the rear of the scrum with Joe Mulholland saying that Donegal is not being sold tourist wise.Referring to essays taken from this year’s MacGill Summer School on the economy, the book “Irelands Economic Crisis Time To Act” which is now on sale. “It was proposed that Donegal be part of the Ulster,the people of Donegal did’nt want it”. RTE’s Eileen Magnier, “ Donegal had recession before anyone else and we covered the Fruit of the Looms’ and all those jobs losses. We were covering job losses in Killybegs on a regular basis. We do’nt go there any more because the place is half dead. There are positives and the people are very resilient”.
Charlie Collins Highland Radio, “Donegal has been left behind in many ways. I would say fact that we have been able to survive given our geographical situation and given that for whatever reason the British didnt want to take us says volumes for the people of the county.”
Michael Daly Editor in Chief Donegal Democrat concluded the media debate, “Look back at the history of what happened in Northern Ireland over the past 30 years. Indeed down this very street three weeks ago, there was a live bomb device taken away by Army personnel and we all know the mayhem and concerns that caused. One thing that strikes me back to last December 1st when Alastair Darling dropped his VAT rate to 15% while we increased it to 21.5%.The Donegal Democrat’s front page today “Recession Bites Hard in Donegal “. I could have written that same story every week for the past six months.”
Those words say it all, with many nodding in agreement.
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Weather for Donegal
Saturday 04 February 2012
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