Galway Advertiser 2004/2004_06_10/GA_1006_E1_008.pdf 

Extracted text

8 N E W S

Galway Advertiser

June10 2004

Mayor O'Flaherty tackles car cost controversy
The Mayor of Galway Cllr Terry O'Flaherty has come out to tackle the issues raised by the recent controversy regarding costs of the mayoral car and driver to the Galway City Council. Despite last week's revelations being made about the past five mayors, Mayor O'Flaherty took to the airwaves last week to defend the value of the car to the city. Mayor O'Flaherty has outlined that the service, including model of car, and driver, and associated costs, are solely within the remit of the city council officials, and this agreement was entered into by the former city manager Joe Gavin, in November 1998. "The mayor has no material influence or say regarding the performance of the contract," she said. "While there may be some people who are under the impression that I personally or any of the preceding mayors for the past five years, have in their own capacity, made arrangements regarding the mayoral transport, I would like to categorically state that this is not the case." She accused Fine Gael's Padraic Conneely of being "selective in his attempt to smear all former mayors since 1999" excluding the listing of the mayoral car costs when it was used by his party colleague Cllr Angela Lupton, when she was mayor in 1998. Mayor O'Flaherty went on to say that any election candidate who would degrade the office of mayor to sway voters opinion, is indulging in "pathetic" and "contemptible" activities. "The associated smear campaign just a week before the election, directed at the office of mayor, and the personages holding this important office for the past five years, is something which has appalled me personally, and the vast majority of Galwegians," she said. Mayor O'Flaherty said she was "very upset and hurt at the accusations directed at me in Mr Conneely's attempt to tarnish my good reputation. However, I face the electorate, standing on my record of achievements to date, and hope the people of the North and East will judge me on that".

Independent candidate Tokie Laotan looking for No 1's in Gort na Choiste, Castlegar on Tuesday. Photo:-Mike Shaughnessy

As the election campaign comes to an end, I want to thank you for the courtesy and kindness you have shown to me, my family and my campaign team, over the past number of weeks. I am very aware of the local issues we face on a daily basis in our Community, and I hope that you will do your best to help me get re-elected to Galway County Council, so that I can continue to represent our Community and work on your behalf at local level. Please Vote Mary Hoade No 1 in the forthcoming Local Elections, so that you can continue to have representation at local level in Galway County Council and vote No. 2 Tim Rabbitt. Mary can be contacted anytime on 087 2255979 or 091 789854 or Email: mhoade@cllr.galwaycoco.ie

Count violets instead of votes
Anne McKeon's garden at Buaile Beag, Barna (two miles up past Rahoon Cemetery) will be open to the public on Saturday next June 12 from 2pm to 6pm. While hundreds are busy counting votes, the public are invited to see the delights of Anne's garden. There will be a plant and cake sale on the day and proceeds will be in aid of the Christina Noble Foundation. All are welcome. For further information contact (091) 521186.

Galway's character is under threat, says McDonnell
BY ANDREW HAMILTON Local election candidate Declan McDonnell feels that Galway is in danger of losing its unique character unless action is taken soon. He believes that the bad publicity that the city has received recently will have a major impact on Galway's image as a tourist location. Mc Donnell feel that experience and commonsense are required at City Hall if damaging events, like the clamping scandal, are to be avoided in the future. "The priority for the people of Galway and the representatives they elect - has got to be in giving the people back their voice in the policies which affect them in their everyday lives," he said.

Please remember to Vote No. 1 Sean O'Neachtain for Europe Website: http://vote-1.com/mary-hoade/

WE ARE BACK!!
KAYAKING COURSES
For more details call 087 7435644 10% Discount for first two weeks of June Now enrolling for Adults & Children Prior booking is essential

Chinaman Takeaway
Oranmore

MARY HOADE

Ph 792211
Chinese Delivery

Chinatown
Ph. 528844