Fianna Fail Deputy for Roscommon/Galway Eugene Murphy has expressed this extreme disappointment that the Minister of State for the OPW and Flood Relief Sean Canney has announced a visit to turloughs in the constituency on Monday, September 19th, a date which coincides with the Fianna Fail party think in.
Minister Canney announced late on Friday evening that he was due to visit a range of turloughs in County Roscommon including Lough Funshinagh/Ardmullen, Athleague/ Correal Turlough as well as Castleplunkett/Bushfield/ Brackloon turloughs and Boyle turloughs.
Deputy Murphy claims the visit by the Minister of State was “coincidentally” organised for next Monday when the Fianna Fail think in is taking place in Carlow in a bid to exclude Deputy Murphy from being able to attend. “It is very unfortunate that Minister Canney’s visit coincides with the Fianna Fail party think in which is taking place in Carlow next Monday and Tuesday. As Fianna Fail spokesperson on the OPW and Flood Relief I have been working hard on flooding issues and in fact launched a bill in this regard last week. In fact I discussed the issue of flooding and turloughs at length with Minister Canney at a meeting in Ballinasloe last Wednesday night and he gave no indication of a visit to the constituency at that stage.
The crisis issue of flooding and turloughs is very much to the fore of people’s minds as we head into the winter months and we are only seven days rainfall away from another devastating flood- it is a shame to think that a political football is now being made of such issues when we all as politicians should be focusing on joined up thinking and solutions to the issue.
“I am now in the process of making arrangements with my party to ensure that I will be in a position to be present in the constituency for Minister’s Canney’s visit next Monday as I feel it is a major priority and I have been pressing for this visit for some time now,” concluded Deputy Murphy.
