Defending the Clare county boundary

Last week in the Dáil Deputy Joe Carey of  Fine Gael made a speech on the long running 'boundary issue' between Clare and Limerick. The history is a  group led by former Kerry Foods CEO, Denis Brosnan recommended in 2009 that part of Co Clare be included in a new local authority body that will include Limerick City and County Link here.. Denis Brosnan and his review team proposed the change in the interests of better administration and potentional  for improved economic and regional development.

All Clare Politicians oppose giving ground to Limerick

 The thought of ANY part of The Banner ceded to Limerick is fiercely resisted by ALL Clare politicians. I noted in  how to get elected in Clare at election time  that  opposing boundary change was a pre-requisite for Clare politicians. It  should be noted that at election time a dissenting voice was Green councillor Brian Meaney who suggested that the issue should be examined (ref Clare FM debates).

So all politicians (bar Meaney) oppose boundary changes  and the political game is to be seen to oppose it. Recently we had incoming senator Tony Mulcahy speaking of a decision being imminent by Enviroment Minister, and party colleague,  Phil Hogan  and  an ' annexing' of The Banner into Limerick  in the Clare Courier. Frightening language!

Enter Deputy Carey into the fray on the topic. In agreement with his party colleague, Minister Hogan they convened an Adjournment Debate in the Dáil last week on the Clare boundary matter.


Here's the debate 
 The debate includes the ususual quip from somebody. in this case its Dara Colleary, on hurlers being poached.

It is noteworthy that Carey does not engage with the the arguments made in relation to regional development or economic matters. The Clare People, perhaps accurately, decribed it as a 'wrap the banner flag around me speech'. The picture below  is a  Word Cloud of the speech and shows the most common words used.

Word cloud of Carey's boundary speech

The give away that this is all a charade was in  Phil Hogan's response.


'I recognise the proposal  [ie Boundary changes] does not enjoy the same degree of support as other aspects of the report, and it is probably not as essential to the core issues dealt with in the report as the Limerick city and county aspect. The detachment of a portion of the functional area of one county authority and its incorporation into another would involve legal and administrative complexity'.

 What's missing in the debate on Clare and Limerick boundary is Minister Hogan's perspective. Back home in Kilkenny he is defending his own county from Waterford which is seeking expansion into South Co.Kilkenny Link here

Minister Hogan won't 'annexe' Clare for his own local Kilkenny reasons

There is is no way any part of Clare will move to Limerick. This is all a charade. Our politicians are playing local games. We deserve better.