The Fianna Fail Leader Micheal Martin will visit County Clare today as part of what he’s described as the ongoing renewal of the party.
Following major losses in the last General Election, the party is focusing on local elections in 2014 and regards County Clare as one of it’s remaining strongholds for local government representation.
Speaking to Clare FM ahead of his visit to Shannon Airport, Ennis General Hospital and the Clarecastle Daycare centre, Deputy Martin criticised plans to abolish Clare’s four town councils, but said the party will be listening to local members today with a view to deciding election strategies for next year.
In particular the Fianna Fail Leader said he’s focusing on Shannon Town where the party was wiped out in recent years.
Meanwhile, the Fianna Fail Leader has been criticised for his calls to keep Aer Rianta International part of an independent Shannon Airport by a Clare Government TD.
Labour’s Michael McNamara has said Micheal Martin’s party has no credibility on Shannon, as Fianna Fail failed to seperate the airports during 14 years of power in which they oversaw the the transfer of Aer Rianta International to the Dublin Airport Authority.
The government has said profitable Duty Free Business Company which was founded in Shannon, will remain in the control of the DAA is return for a right of of Shannon Airport’s debts, but Deputy Martin says his party will fight that decision.
Deputy McNamara has described his comments as cynical opportunism.
