04/01/2008 - 05/01/2008 - Political Quote

Political Quote

The Internet home of Keith Martin : a blog of Political news, opinion, quotes and analysis

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Thursday, April 10, 2008

Are you on the Register?

12:49 PM 1

David Fallon, Secretary of the Westport Branch of the Labour Party, is advising all residents in the Westport area to ensure they are on the new Register of Electors which came into effect on February 15th.

 

The Register may be inspected at Westport Public Library or Westport Civic Offices and covers the town of Westport and the Westport Electoral Area.  The Supplement to the Register is prepared in the event of an election or referendum. This allows for people who are entitled to be included in the Register to apply for inclusion up to 14 days before Polling Day. Persons who are not registered to vote must complete the RFA2 Application Form.  Persons who are applying for a change of address must apply on the RFA3 Application Form.

 

According to Mr Fallon "While it is only Irish Citizens who are entitled to vote in the upcoming Referendum, Irish citizens,  British citizens, EU citizens and non-EU citizens are all eligible to vote in Local Elections and it is important they register to vote to ensure their voice is heard on election day."



Sincerely  Keith Martin  Mobile        086 0691182 e-mail        newseditor@ireland.com 

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Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Green Party attack on local government planning

2:36 AM 2

Labour's Cllr Keith Martin says the Green Party's proposals to reduce the number of planning authorities in the country is a step backwards and an attack on the autonomy of town councils and their ability to develop their own areas.

 

In its submission to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government on Local Government Reform the Green Party proposes that "only city and county councils retain planning functions in regard to development control. This would reduce the amount of Planning Authorities from 88 to 33".

 

Cllr Martin says this is a step backwards for local government as the accepted principal for good local government was "government and decision making which takes place at the lowest possible and practical level. 

 

"The current system whereby each local authority determines its own planning decisions works and is the most accessible to the local population and councillors.  Removing Westport Town Council's planning department and placing planning in the hands of Mayo County Council removes yet another vital function of local government from Town Councils and flies in the face of the Green Party's stated aim of strengthening local government." 

 

Cllr Martin concluded "I don't pretend that planning decisions are perfect but removing the planning powers from our council and handing them to the County Council is no solution, all it does is add another layer of bureaucracy to the system and increase the distance between the citizen and the decision makers."



Sincerely  Keith Martin  Mobile        086 0691182 e-mail        newseditor@ireland.com 

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Wednesday, April 2, 2008

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