Galway Advertiser 1977/1977_06_23/GA_23061977_E1_004.pdf 

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M . Geoghegan-Quinn, (Fianna Fail) On behalf of our four candidates, Maire Geoghegan-Quinn, William Loughnane, Robert Molloy and Micheal 6 Morain, I wish to state that eleven of the twelve questions in your jurvev arc among the topics dealt with in our Action Plan for National R econstruction. Since you ask for brevity, it would not be possible to summarise this 47-page document adequately in a few lines, containing as it does many comprehensive statements on our policies.

Q. 4, for example, on Lower Income Tax, is covered by at least four different proposals in our manifesto. The manifesto gives young men and women their best chance to participate in the building of a better and stable future. It is a blueprint for leadership, which by the firm and just administration o f faw, esteem for enterprise and concern for the individual, will bring back that sense of confidence and interdependence which is essential to the growth f
Q

peace and sociaf progress and o f o u r cultural heritage among the nations of the world.

your survey, such as the granting of independent status to University College Galway. Other issues not mentioned in your survey will, as

USE YOUR VOTE!
POLLING D A Y TOMORROW THURSDAY 16th J U N E 9 a.m. t o 9 p . m .

ELECTIOii
Candidates A

Robert Molloy (Fianna Fail) As to the remaining question, concerning Salerno School, no one has been more active than the local Fianna Fail T.D.'s over the past 4 years in trying to counteract the intransigence of successive Ministers for Education on this matter. Our position on this topic is in no doubt. Likewise, our position is clear on similar topics not mentioned in

Micheal O Morain (Fianna Fail) always, have the attention of our elected representatives on behalf or the people. I should appreciate it very much if you would publish this statement in full. John Btadley, Director of Elections, Fianna Fail.

D r . B i l l Loughnane (Fianna Fail)

R E A D E R S , we asked you t h r o u g h o u r recent "Western Poll W a t c h " what you thought the issues were i n the Galway West Constituency. Y o u r answers included such topics as prices, education a n d security, a n d generally they covered a broad combination o f national a n d local issues. Now, on the eve o f electing the next representatives f o r the city and surrounds the Galway Advertiser gives you the opportunity o f getting some straight answers. W e , i n a questionnaire, asked candidates to reply to what our readers listed as the twelve most i m p o r t a n t issues, they were requested to be b r i e f and to the point, outlining what they would do i f elected to the D a i l . T h e twelve most i m p o r t a n t issues, i n order o f importance according to o u r survey, were: 1. Unemployment, a n d youth unemployment i n particular. 2. Prices a n d the cost o f living. 3. T h e provision o f a new school building for Salerno School, S a l t h i l l .

No Reds U n d e r Beds
Senator Michael D. Higgins, speaking in the Industrial Estate, Galway, said that the ability to protect our economic future, provide bouses sad end speculation remained crucial issues with the electorate. In 1969 he said a scurrilous smear campaign had been run against him in para of the city as part of the national 'red scare' campaign against the Labour Party by Fianna Fail. He had already commenced legal proceedings, he said, and was seeking damages from Independent Newspapers Ltd. for printing a blatant lie which they claimed had been supplied by a Fianna Fail canvasser, namely that he was in favour of abortion, a subject upon which he bad never spoken at any time or any place. These cheap tactics, however, would not work with an electorate who had experienced the ravages of housing shortages, job losses, and dear food. Comparing this election with others, he said, that the apathy among the electorate that most people complained about was in fact the rejection of the old conservative slight of hand politics and represented i genuine desire for a politics and politicians willing to address themselves to the real issues. The Labour Party had

The controversial new Some 2,000 letters were sent out to members of the powerful Salerno Secondary School-- I.T.G.W.U. last week urging them to vote Michael D. Higgins, on and off since 1967-- the Labour Party candidate the number one choice. The letter received a definite go-ahead was signed by Senators Fintan Kennedy, Michael Mullen and from Education Minister John F. Carroll. Barry last weekend. However, this unique gesture raised hackles with local The Jesus and Mary Sisters members and the following statement deplores this intervention received written confirmation with the voting patterns of the members: that the 300 pupil school will We, the undersigned, as members of the I. T. G. W. U. strongly go ahead in St. Enda's grounds protest at the interference of Senator Fintan Kennedy, Senator close by the present unsuitable Michael Mullen and Mr. John Carroll in our democratic right to premises. vote for the candidates of our choice in the General Election in West The Salerno school was Galway. made an important issue when We deplore the intervention of the Union at an official level in this newspaper asked readers advising us as to how we should vote, regardless of who is to send in questions that the recommended. We believe that, as members of the I. T.G. W.U., we candidates should answer. have a free choice for whom we so decide. Over one hundred people A s members of the I. T. G. W. U. we strongly condemn this abuse of asked about Salerno . . . and our democratic right of free choice. two days after our survey was We would also like to point out to the public that Michael D. published the school gets the Higgins is not even a member of our union. Green Light. We do not intend to accept advice as to how we should vote and call on other I.T.G.W.U. members to show that this is still a free country and that we are entitled to a free choice in deciding for whom we
irwuta vote.

I.T.G.W.U. Members Object To Letter

G r e e n Light f o r Salerno

Signed: Mattie Egan, Robert Kelly, Tom Shaughnessy, Christy McEvUly, Joe Kelly, Tommy Coyne, John Joe Corcoran, Andrew Darcy, Fred O'Connor, Michael Waters, Jim Connors, Colman McDonagh, Michael Walsh, William Browne, Peter Callaghan, Joe Kelly, Pat Lawless, Martin Mannion, Joseph Carr, Paddy O'Malley, Jack Forde, Michael Glynn, Sean Hession, Mattie Naliy, Chris Concannon, Thomas Conneely, Pat Bane, Thomas Faherty, Jim Nalty, Michael Dunne. done this and the smear tactics being used were a cheap attempt to detract from the enthusiasm with which its Womens Rights document had been received. In the end of the day, he said, when their protective shell was taken off at election time it was the same conservative mentality that zealously defended specula tion in housing, attacked state initiative in industry and wanted to keep Irish women in the role of what Connolly had called "the slave of a slave". MICHAEL D. HIGGINS 1. Unemployment "The Labour Party aims for full economic planning for social objectives. It is opposed in this by those who insist on quick profit. A National Enterprise Board with control of credit alone can provide the 3 0 0 , 0 0 0 jobs we need by 1985". 2. Cost of living "Prices can be controlled in a planned economy. In a private enterprise speculative economy price rises a n d high un employment are the social costs of huge profits e.g. record bank profits which food is dear, insufficent houses and high unemployment". 3. Salerno "This was aceded as necessary by the Department of Education and should be provided. But I also see a secondary school for Mervue/ Renmore area, as a urgent necessity". 4. Income Tax "The present taxation code works against the

P.A.Y.E. earner. Taxes on earnings are intolerable but conservative politicians opposed the Wealth and Capital Gains Tax which Labour d e m a n d e d and established". 5. Old-age pensioners "Index-linked pensions should have been introduced l o n g ago. Earlier retirement should n o t entail poverty. 'I myself would welcome a National Nutrition Survey' ". 6. Education "Class numbers all over must b e lowered by especially at primary level". 7. Female equality "I have advocated economic, legal and social equality in a number of Senate speeches". 8. Family Law "Not only do we need family Courts but the recent legislation preventing sale of the family home needs to be ammended to establish women's rights to household capital". 9. Family Planning Clinics "I am in favour of these being provided and administered b y the Health Boards. Because of my attitude I am the only candidate singled out for Slander by the C.P.A.N.". 10. Northern Ireland "A mass Labour Party built on a United Trade Union movement is probably the only acceptable way forward to the working people of the North".

Your Ballot Paper and You . . .
About 16,000 electors spoil their Ballot Papers at each election and their votes have no effect whatever on the result of the election. This happens because they do not follow the simple instructions for voting which appear on the ballot paper. Under our system of proportional representation, when an elector marks the ballot paper properly he gives a series of instructions to the returning officer. In effect, the elector says: "I wish to vote for candidate A. However, if that candidate does not need my vote, either because he already has sufficient votes for election or has so few that he could not be elected, then transfer my vote to candidate B. If B in turn does not need my vote (because he already has sufficient votes or has too few to get elected) transfer my vote to candidate C" and so on. If an elector's instructions are unclear or contradictory, the returning officer cannot act on them. Some electors vote only for some of the candidates on the ballot paper, for example, only the candidates of a particular party. They have a perfect right to do this, of course, but in general it is wiser to mark a preference for every candidate on the paper. That way an elector can be sure of getting maximum value for his vote. Thus, if the elector's vote is not needed by any candidate of the party of his choice, it can be transferred and may help to decide between the other candidates. Later preferences cannot interfere with earlier ones. An elector in marking the ballot paper should comply with the following rules: 1. The elector's first preference should be marked clearly. This is done by putting the figure 1 in the space beside the name of the candidate who is the elector's first choice. The figure 1 should not be put beside more than one name. 2. Subsequent preferences should be shown by putting the figures 2, 3,4 and so on beside the names of the other candidates in the order of choice. The same figure should not be put beside more than one name. Preferences should be in strict numerical order. 3. Nothing should be written on the ballot paper apart from the figures indicating the preferences. Figures only should be used, not X or any other mark. 4. If an elector needs help in marking the ballot paper he should ask the presiding officer for assistance.

That's Democracy . . .
Now everyone wants to meet the Rahoon Park Tenants' Association. But only because An Taoiseach Mr. Liam Cosgrave, cancelled a meeting with them two weeks ago. The tenants were so mad they called on Local Authority tenants throughout the city to

remember they were snubbed by Fine Gael. However, this is an election and when Labour leader Brendan Corish heard of their plight agreed to meet the Association last week. When opposition leader Jack Lynch came to Galway he also agreed to meet them. And last night Foreign Affairs Minister

Garrett Fitzgerald met them. They all agreed to look into the problem of rent arrears and the difficulties of living in Rahoon. Our picture shows (left) Mr. Jack Lynch, Mrs. Mary Lambe, P.R.O., Mr. Joseph Maloney (Chairman Rahoon Park) and Mr. Robert Molloy, F.F. candidate.

11. Extra Gardai "This is necessary where security of the old and vulnerable is threatened but community peace is only possible when the e v i l s of bad housing, unemployment etc. are eliminated".

12. Abolition of censorship "I have always spoken on the importance ofl c r i t i c i s m , one o f the e s s e n t i a l hallmarks oi democracy. But does nobody object to the! exploitation of advertising and cheap violent fdms".
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