*Scariff Bay Community Radio recorded their election debate.
PARENT TEACHER meetings were factored into canvassing time and the last bins before polling day were put out by a West Clare hopeful.
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On day eleven of the campaign, party allegiances were put aside by local councillors in the Shannon Municipal District and West Clare Municipal District when voicing well wishes to Cllr Donna McGettigan (SF) and Cllr Rita McInerney (FF) in their election endeavours.
“Last night was the last one to put out the bins before the election, this could be your last meeting at the West Clare Municipal District,” Cllr Ian Lynch (IND) quipped to McInerney. After chairing the meeting, the Doonbeg woman left Ennistymon for Kilmaley where she was joined by Patsy O’Grady and JB McInerney.
Scariff Bay Community Radio recorded its election debate which featured Cllr Joe Cooney (FG), Cathal Crowe TD (FF), Amanda Major (IND), Senator Timmy Dooley (FF), Matthew Moroney (IND), Eddie Punch (II) and Hilary Tonge (SD). The debate was moderated by SBCR presenter and UL lecturer, David Fleming. The debate is to air this Saturday.
Clare FM recorded their election debate with candidates in the chamber of Clare County Council, the full broadcast is to air at a later date.
Folllowing the debate, parent teacher meetings were attended in Cratloe NS by Deputy Crowe alongside his wife Maeve before he canvassed South Clare with Cllr Rachel Hartigan (FF).
Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee (FG) paid a visit to Ennis where she canvassed with the Fine Gael trio of Leonora Carey (FG), Dr Tom Nolan (FG) and Cllr Cooney.
Outgoing TD, Violet-Anne Wynne (IND) has issued a pitch to farmers to give her their backing “to defend your rights on and off the farm”. She said, Labour, People Before Profit and the Social Democrats are “are all in favour of letting the nitrates derogation lapse” based on the RTÉ Upfront debate with Katie Hannon. “Farmers cannot be sacrificed for government failure to properly fund public transport and industry initiatives”.
June Dillon (AON) criticised the performance of Taoiseach, Simon Harris (FG) on the debate for not taking responsibility for the National Children’s Hospital.
When canvassing his own home town of Tulla, Paddy Murphy (IND) was asked the “hard questions” on immigration, housing and tourism only to realise the person he spent half an hour fielding queries from does not have a vote in the constituency of Clare. “An independent voice is very important, not running with the party line and I’m not afraid to speak,” was his latest message.
Other parties are “copying” the work of the Greens according to Senator Roisin Garvey (GP) while Cllr McGettigan said their election manifesto “sets out what change with a Sinn Féin led government will look like. It details our plans to deliver for you, for your family and for your community. We have set out comprehensive costed policies that will transform housing, healthcare and childcare, and deliver lasting cuts to the cost of living. The choice is clear, more of the same failures with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael or a vote for Sinn Féin to change the Government”.