Martin Ferris TD speaking to motion 136
Published: 1 March, 2008
While much lip service is still paid to the centrality of rural life in this country, in reality there are many factors actively undermining rural communities and the quality of life of those who live in them.
Despite the Spatial Strategy economic growth and development is still regionally unbalanced and contributing to increased urbanisation. That is to the benefit neither of urban communities which are experiencing problems associated with housing, crime, traffic and quality of life nor of rural communities which in many cases are being left by the wayside.
The traditional economy of family farming and fishing employs fewer and fewer people and those jobs are seldom replaced. While the whole logic of EU policy towards farming and fishing is to persuade the majority of those involved to leave, there is no strategy either at EU or national level to maintain the communities that were dependent upon them.
This has led to a combination of much higher than average levels of unemployment, especially in counties like Kerry, Clare, Mayo and Donegal, and a return of outward migration either to the urban centres or abroad. Something that we thought we had seen the last of in the Celtic Tiger and something which seems bizarre in the light of high levels of immigration.
Alongside the loss of traditional farming, fishing and manufacturing jobs, we have the closure or running down of public services such as health, education, policing and transport and the closure of post offices, shops, and pubs. All of this contributes to a growing sense of isolation and disempowerment.
Some of that lack has to do with the fact that more and more of the decisions concerning peoples lives are taken at central Government level with little input from the communities and individuals affected. Not to mention the fact that the growing centralisation of the EU means that crucial decisions on farming and fishing are made without any reference to those affected, or it would seem in some cases with any influence even from the Irish Government.
We have seen several examples of this in recent months with the ongoing decimation of the fishing sector, the Brazilian beef ban and the willingness of the EU to sacrifice farming interests at the World Trade Organisation negotiations. And of course we have the situation where the EU has decreed that schools must pay water charges.
There is a clear need therefore to at the very least put an end to any further leaching of power to the centre. And especially to the centre of Europe.
Sinn Féin's position is that every citizen, in no matter what part of the country, is entitled to the same level of provision of public services. And that needs to be accepted by all parties and by society in general.
There is no one party or organisation is capable of tackling the problems that face rural Ireland. That is why I am proposing that all who have an interest in the survival of rural Ireland and especially of the west, come together on a non party political basis to do something.
We need people of all parties and none, and all representative organisations from those involved in farming, fishing and other areas of economic life, to Macra, the Irish Countrywomens Association, the GAA, and every other body with members and an interest in rural communities to make this a priority.
|
