McDonnell elected mayor as FG accused of ‘betrayal’

Date Published: 16-Jun-2009

THE local Fine Gael party has been accused by the Labour Party of “betraying the electorate” after it last night voted for a mayoral pact with the ‘old enemy’ Fianna Fáil and pledged to work closely with its main rival over the next five years to implement a new policy pact.

Civil War politics in Galway City ended last night when Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and three former Progressive Democrats councillors formed a unique and unlikely coalition by pledging to unveil a 10-point plan in the coming weeks that will contain proposals to progress the city’s interests.

Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and Independents Declan McDonnell, Terry O’Flaherty and Donal Lyons, who now have a working majority on Galway City Council, said the priorities of the plan include advancing major infrastructural projects viewed as vital for Galway’s growth and success.

The finer detail of the policy pact and 10-point plan will be thrashed out in the next few weeks but the main thrust of the policies include bringing the Salthill Airshow back, advancing the Galway City Outer
Bypass, and developing Galway Harbour and Ceannt Station.

The plan will also, amongst other objectives, include proposals to find a solution to the city’s chronic traffic congestion problem; the lead in the water crisis in Mervue and other areas of the city; as well as reducing the social housing waiting list and advancing projects to help the elderly.

After…