*Michael Leahy speaking in Thurles.
ENNIS Architect Michael Leahy believes immigration is the single biggest issue affecting Irish voters in the run up to the European elections in June.
Leahy who is the Irish Freedom Party candidate for the Ireland South constituency for the European elections said the recent referenda result is the beginning of an Irish awakening. “By far the greatest concern that people have out on the streets is concern over the manner in which the government has lost control over the issue of immigration”.
Since the end of December, Leahy and his team have campaigned in all ten counties of the constituency which will elect five MEPs. “I had combined campaigning for the EU elections with campaigning for a No in the referenda in the month before March 7th, and it had become apparent to me that women in particular were adamant in their determination to vote ‘No’. Rather than the very high No vote being an indication that the issue was too complex as claimed by the government, I believe, from my experience on the campaign trail, that it is an indication that the electorate is fed up with the high-handed attitude of the government and its obsession with politically correct projects which are far removed from the needs and interests of ordinary people”.
Farming issues, such as excessive bureaucracy and the nitrates directive and difficulties for small business owners are a priority for the Corofin based candidate, who runs a business as an architect in Ennis. Housing issues, planning and regulations are a key focus for his work.
“As an architect and planner I am regularly asked about the difficulties that local people face in securing permission to develop their own land and to provide for their families. There can be no doubt that the implementation of many EU directives on the environment have made Irish planning law one of the most complex and difficult in the world, and this needs to be urgently revised, preferably at European level,” he said.
