FF starts infighting,

The rats have left left the sinking ship, now those remaining are starting to attack each other.

MAYO FIANNA FAIL DEPUTY BEVERLEY FLYNN HAS ACCUSED HER COLLEAGUE THE JUNIOR MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE TONY KILLEEN OF MISCHIEF MAKING IN RELATION TO THE RETENTION OF THE TEAGASC OFFICE IN WESTPORT.
DEPUTY FLYNN MADE THE COMMENTS AFTER SHE SPOKE ON THE CLOSURE OF THE TEAGASC OFFICE IN CASTLEBAR ON THE DAIL ADJOURNMENT LAST NIGHT. DEPUTY FLYNN SAYS THAT THE MINISTER SPOKE ON THE CLOSURE OF THE OFFICE IN CASTLEBAR AND MADE COMMENTS IN RELATION TO THE IMPACT THAT WOULD HAVE ON THE WESTPORT OFFICE AND MAY LEAD TO IT’S CLOSURE ALSO.
DEPUTY FLYNN SAYS THAT THIS WAS MISCHIEF MAKING ON THE MINISTER’S BEHALF AND THAT SHE HAS RECEIVED ASSURANCES FROM THE BOARD OF TEAGASC THAT THE WESTPORT OFFICE IS NOT UNDER THREAT DUE TO THE HINTERLAND IT SERVES.


-- Post From My iPhone

Best Christmas Present!

I am delighted at the result, it's the best Christmas present I could have hoped for.  It has been a long and stressful three months in limbo but it is great to be back in my rightful place as Councillor and Leas Cathaoirleach of Westport Town Council.

 

I would like to thank Helena Boylan and Co and Mr John Jordan BL for their hard work, good counsel and professionalism.

 

I would like to thank the Cathaoirleach Cllr Myles Staunton and my council colleagues for their support and solidarity with me over the last couple of months.

 

I would like to thank all those supporters and well wishers who stuck with me over the three months but I would most like to thank all those who voted for me in June and whose voice was silenced for the last three months.

 

Their voice will be heard once more in the chamber and it will be heard loud and clear as the council conducts its business.

 

I would also like to thank my family for all their support.

 

I am delighted to be back in time to help finalise the Town Plan for the coming five years and to see out 2009 as a councillor and as Leas Cathaoirleach.

 

It is an honour to serve the people on Westport Town Council and I look forward to the next four and a half years of service.  There are tough times ahead but I will be part of the solution not the problem.

 

I bear no grudge or malice towards anyone; the officials involved were only following the rule of law to its conclusion.  It is the law itself with which I take issue and I intend raising my situation with the Law Reform Commission in the New Year. 

 

No councillor should be removed from office with the stroke of a pen for being late for paperwork, no-one should be presumed guilty and required to go to court to clear their name and no punishment should be so disproportion to the offence.

 

This is contrary to natural justice and the Irish sense of fair play and I am determined to have the law changed so that no one else goes to through the stress, expense and undemocratic and unfair procedure that I have had to face since September.

--
Faithfully

Cllr Keith Martin
086 0691182

Agenda for Town Council meeting

AGENDA FOR TOWN COUNCIL MEEETING

THURSDAY, 10^TH DECEMBER 2009 AT 5.00 p.m.

 

 

(01)          To confirm Minutes of November meeting of Westport Town Council held on 12^th November 2009;

 

(02)        Planning;

 

(03)        Presentation on Westport Leisure Park;

 

(04)        To note ITIC Report "Review & Outlook for  Ireland's Domestic Travel Market";

 

(05)        Update on Roadwork's  Programme;

 

(06)        Report on Development of Community and Recreation facilities at Golf Course Road;

 

(07)        Update on Casual Vacancy;

 

(08)        Report on  Limavady Twinning Meeting;

 

(09)        Update on Traffic Management

 

(10)          To agree date for Budget Meeting;

 

(11)           To agree date for Development Plan Meeting;

 

(12)          Conference;

 

(13)          Any Other Business

 

It's good to be back!

Thankfully the Circuit Court in Castlebar has removed my disqualification from serving in local government and I am back in my rightful position of Westport Town
Councillor and Leas Cathaoirleach of Westport.
It has been a long and stressful 3 months since I was informed I was disqualified from office for being late with my paperwork.
Thanks for all your support.


-- Post From My iPhone

Circuit Court hearing tomorrow

My motion to remove my disqualification from office goes before the Circuit Court tomorrow. Stay tuned to my blog or Twitter account for live updates and the result! Fingers crossed!


-- Post From My iPhone

Submission on town plan

Submission on Town Plan

 

Keith Martin

 

33 Pairc na Coille

Westport

Co. Mayo

 

Tuesday, 01 December 2009

 

 

1. Inserting the word "sustainable" into the town plan, here and there, does not make it a plan for a sustainable town.  Specific provisions for park and walk, allotments, increased bus links within the town and with towns like Castlebar, encouraging walking to school and work, bicycle parking, cycling lanes, dedicated cycle and walking lanes, the use of renewable power in public buildings and the proper insulation of existing and future buildings are issues which make a sustainable town.
2. EO-05 should be removed.  The industrialisation of Roman Island is an eyesore and a mistake, removing EO-05 will not affect the existing jobs but will end the possibility of further industrialisation of an island at the heart of Westport's contact with the Clew Bay SAC.  No other jobs are protected in such a manner in the town plan and it is poor practise to do so in this instance.
3. CFO-07 remove "subject to demand and logistics" as this could be applied to any other provision of the Town Plan and is a given in any event.
4. TO-05 allows for the "watering down" and weakening of the council's case in enforcing the preservation of the town's protected structures.  This has not been an issue in the past and should not be an issue in the future.  The change to "a high conservation standard" should be struck out and the original phrase allowed to stand.
5. 3 INDUSTRIAL ZONING in the case of the Newport Road/Golf Course Road should be shielded off by evergreen trees.
6. Proposed amendments to the Proposed additions to the RPS should be postponed and meeting sought with the Minister for the Environment to outline what grant supports will be made available to property owners in Westport in the event that their property is to be listed.
7. Zonings ZA-07,ZA-08 and ZA-09 are un-necessary and very inappropriate as they throw the whole town plan out of balance from being one which seeks to develop a town core to one which seeks to open up huge strips of land outside the town and on the edge of the town to large scale commercial development.  It is my belief that if this zoning goes through as is that it will be overturned by the Dept of the Environment and that advise from the Dept should be sought in advance of any decision.
8. ZA-18 should be zoned for Marine and not Industrial.  It should be an objective of the council to encourage Marine related tourism and commercial enterprise on Roman Island and not perpetuate the mistake of allowing it to be industrialised.
9. ZA-22 How was this site developed a sports pitch when it was not properly zoned?  Could this be explained to me in writing?  I am happy with new zoning to go into place though there have been complaints of noise from residents in the area.
10. ZA-28 is an absolutely disastrous example of poor planning by a local authority.  It is an attempt to please everyone which fails to satisfy anyone.  Since the garden was closed it has been allowed to stagnate, while zoned Town Centre for over a decade at the hight of the planning boom it was left undeveloped.  Suggestions that by zoning it Open Space now could leave it to "stagnate" further are spurious.  You cannot carve up the Bank Garden into two zonings as it is contrary to idea of it being protected curtilage and would only destroy the area as a walled garden by removing the walls.  In any event the amount zoned Open Space would have to be open space for any residential aspect of development in the garden.  The Town Council tried to purchase this garden when it first went on the market.  It is time for Westport Town and Mayo County Council to purchase it as a park for Westport and as a tourism attraction.  The Garden must be zoned Open Space in its entirety.
11. This plan fails to regularise the issue of Quarry Lane.  It should be determined as to exactly what the lane is capable of off and if any further development should be allowed to take place accessing it.  In my opinion Quarry Lane has been over developed and is not capable of carrying any more traffic.

 

Faithfully

Keith Martin
086 0691182

--
Faithfully

Cllr Keith Martin
086 0691182

--
Faithfully

Cllr Keith Martin
086 0691182

Court date

Still no news on a court date for my hearing. I am sure the courts service are very busy but I am hoping that it will be sooner than later.

Will keep you informed.


-- Post From My iPhone

Happy Halloween!

PLANNED CUTS IN SOCIAL WELFARE WOULD PLUNGE FAMILIES INTO WELL OF POVERTY

PLANNED CUTS IN SOCIAL WELFARE WOULD PLUNGE FAMILIES INTO WELL OF POVERTY 

According to Labour's Keith Martin the government's proposal for a cut of €1.3bn in the Social Welfare Budget would devastate the social welfare system, lead to greater inequality in Irish life and plunge those who are already on the lowest of incomes into an even deeper well of poverty. 

"The Labour Party acknowledges the burden on the national finances created by the increase in the social welfare budget over recent years, but the most effective way to reduce the bill is to get people back to work.   

"A reduction of €1.3bn in the social welfare budget could not be achieved without cutting some or all basic social welfare rates.  

"A cut of €1.3bn would represent a reduction of around 6% in the overall social welfare budget.  If this were to be applied across the board, it would bring the basic rate of jobseekers allowance down to a little over €192 per week. 

"Those who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own and those who have worked all their lives and are now on pension, should not be required to pay the price for the recklessness of bankers and for Fianna Fail's mismanagement of the economy over the past twelve years. 

"Throughout the past year the mantra from Brian Cowen, Brian Lenihan and others in Fianna Fail has been that 'We are all in this together, and that we will all have to share the burden'.  However, it is clear from statements of the Taoiseach and the Minister for Finance that the three sectors that are the key targets are - those on social welfare; those who work in the public service; and those who depend on public services. 

In last year's budget Mr. Lenihan spurned the opportunity to raise significant additional revenue by closing the massive tax reliefs available to the super wealthy and ending the scandal of tax exiles.   

All the signs are that Fianna Fail will again opt to make their primary targets ordinary workers and those on social welfare. 

Keith Martin 086 0691182

URGENT IMPLEMENTATION OF TOURISM SURVIVAL ACTION PLAN NEEDED

URGENT IMPLEMENTATION OF TOURISM SURVIVAL ACTION PLAN NEEDED  

Labour's Keith Martin has called on the Government to immediately implement the survival actions recommended by the Tourism Renewal Group, and not merely set up another quango to oversee the implementation of the report. 

"The Government commissioned its own report in the crisis facing the Tourism Sector. The document published by the Tourism Renewal Group is a comprehensive strategy which sets out the scale of the challenges facing the sector.  

"We in Westport all know how important Tourism is to our local economy and natinoally it accounts for €1.5 billion of tax revenues and employs over 120,000. The industry is in freefall with 600,000 fewer foreign visitors so far in 2009 compared with the first 8 months in 2008. The drop of more than 123,000 visitors in August, which is a key month for tourism, and the further decline in the number of visitors from Britain – long our most reliable market – are particularly worrying.  

"We need immediate implementation of the action plans in the five survival issues. These need to be implemented to stabilise the industry and ensure its survival into the future. Instead of immediate action from Government we have another quango to be established to oversee implementation.  

"This type of Fianna Fail bluster is not acceptable. The Government's own Report has recommended a survival plan. It is now incumbent on the Government to deliver on the recommendations. 

"We do not need another committee, we need immediate action. Fianna Fáil has become masters at kicking to touch on concrete actions by calling for more reviews, etc. This nonsense must end and we need immediate action to help this industry survive - an industry which is on its knees." 

ENDS.

Keith Martin 086 0691182

Lisbon passed

Delighted with result on Lisbon! Europe has been great for Ireland and now we are stronger together. Time will prove that the concerns of the NO side are not justified or grounded in fact. We are proud to be an island race but that doesn't mean we should be insular. We are leaders not followers in the EU and now it's time to move on.




-- Post From My iPhone

Red flag flies today

Am flying the red flag of Internationist Socialist Youth from my flagpole today in celebration of the Lisbon vote.



-- Post From My iPhone

Vote Yes

-- Post From My iPhone

The Mayo News - Criminal could sit on council but I can?t ? Martin

The Mayo News - Criminal could sit on council but I can?t ? Martin

Shared via AddThis

Lisbon on the road

Lisbon Posters

I've put up some of my Lisbon Posters to call for a YES vote again as I want to make sure we make the right decision and also to remind my supporters that "I haven't gone away you know!"

It's always a thrill to be campaigning.

-- Post From My iPhone

Update on disqualification

Westport Town Council has written to the General Secretary of the Labour Party informing them of the disqualification of Cllr Keith Martin from sitting on Westport Town Council under the provisions of the Local Elections (Disclosure of Donations and Expenditure) Act, 1999; due to a delay in submitting his disclosure.

 

Westport Town Council have also requested that the Labour Party provide a nominee for co-option to the council to fill Keith Martin's vacant seat. 

 

In the meantime Mr Martin has already written to the Westport Branch of the Labour Party requesting the Branch to compile a shortlist of candidates for co-option "in the event that I am legally unable to retake my seat or unable to retake my seat for personal reasons."

 

Mr Martin has retained a Barrister and is awaiting a date for Circuit Court hearing in Castlebar into this disqualification. Mr Martin's legal team are attempting to ensure that the hearing will take place before the October meeting of Westport Town Council

 

 

Keith Martin

086 0691182

She's back!

Westport's answer to Air Force One took to the streets again for the
last two weeks of the Lisbon Campaign.

Bedecked in her Yes to Lisbon livery she's turning heads in the
Westport Electoral Area once again.

Update

I met with my legal team today, looks like it's going to be a Circuit Court case in early October, if I'm lucky.

If not it could be months before we get case heard.

I have also written to the Minister to ask for an extension of the submission date for the declarations. If the minister were to extend the deadline it would mean that I am no longer disqualified and neither would be the hundreds of others who were also late with their paperwork.

Will have to wait and see! Fingers crossed and thanks for your support. It means a lot to me!


-- Post From My iPhone

A week is a long time in politics!

I have received a letter from John Condon County Secretary of Mayo County Council to say that because I was five days late in submitting my Disclosure of Donations and Expenditures that I have been disqualified from Westport Town Council.

 

Because I was successfully elected to Westport Town Council I was granted a 7 day grace period by Westport Town Council, however the Act makes no such provision for unsuccessful candidates and thus I am supposedly disqualified from sitting on Westport Town Council by the lack of a grace period from Mayo County Council.

 

I submitted my completed Disclosure of Donations and Expenditures forms to both local authorities yesterday before 5pm.

 

It seems very unfair that there is one law for successful candidates and one for unsuccessful candidates and that the rules are such that Mayo County Council can bar me from holding my democratically elected office on Westport Town Council.

 

I am taking advice and have submitted a medical certificate to explain why I was late with my disclosure. 

 

I await a reply.

 

Acting Cathaoirleach Cllr Keith Martin

-- Post From My iPhone

Stabbed Garda is stable

I am very happy to hear that Garda Daryl Mullen is stable in Castleabar hospital following the attack on him with a knife on Saturday night. He is still on the critical list but it is expected that he will make a full recovery. I hope it will be a speedy recovery.

Letter to Garda Stabbed in Westport

The Acting Cathaoirleach of Westport Town Council, Cllr Keith Martin has written to Garda Daryl Mullen to express the regret and outrage of the townspeople of Westport at the knife attack on Saturday night which critically injured the young Garda.
In the letter Cllr Martin acknowledged that the Gardai carry out their duties "in the face of such dangers on a regular basis" and that the people of Westport were grateful to him for his "bravery and dedication."
Cllr Martin told Garda Mullen that Westport wishes him a speedy recovery and that he had the "best wishes of the council and townspeople for his convalescence."
..................................................................................................

Garda Daryl Mullen
Care of
Chief Superintendent Anthony McNamara
Garda HQ
Castelbar
Co. Mayo


9 August 2009


Dear Daryl,
I am writing to you to express my regrets at your injuries which occurred while you were carrying out your duties in our town and to tell you how appalled the people of Westport are by this attack upon you.
On behalf of Westport Town Council I want to wish you a speedy recovery and recuperation.
We also wish to acknowledge that you and your colleagues carry out your duties in the face of such dangers on a regular basis and that we are grateful to you for your bravery and dedication.
You have the best wishes of the council and town's people for your convalescence.


Yours sincerely
_____________
Cllr Keith Martin
Leas Cathaoirleach
Westport Town Council

Early Bird trains for Mayo Dublin line

The CEO of Irish Rail, Mr Richard Fearns, has confirmed to Labour's Cllr Keith Martin that Mayo will be serviced by additional services to Dublin, one of which will be an early bird train which will have commuters from Mayo in Dublin by 8.50am.  In his letter to the Labour councillor Mr Fearns said that the new service will begin on September 27th.

 

Cllr Keith Martin, who has lobbied continuously for the service, has warmly welcomed the news saying "This is great news for Westport and Mayo.  We now have greater connectivity as a region and as a tourist town. 

 

"In these terrible economic times this new service is vital to Mayo as we compete for business, investment and strengthen our tourist appeal.  The service will facilitate Mayo's 125,000 population in connecting with the world and will make Mayo an easier place to get to.

 

"The new early bird service has great potential for tourism and for business as it means it is even easier than before to get to and from Mayo from Dublin and to make other train and travel connections such as flights and ferry connections.  It is great news for the West."

 

In February of this year, in response to a unanimous resolution proposed by Labour's Cllr Martin, Westport's Town Clerk wrote to all of Mayo's Local Authorities and Chambers of Commerce soliciting their support for the campaign. The campaign received the full support of Westport Chamber of Commerce, Castlebar Town Council and Castlebar and Ballyhaunis' Chambers of Commerce.

 

The campaign was begun by the Council in light of Irish Rail's failure to provide a date for the promised extra rail services on the Dublin-Mayo line. These additional services were to include an early bird service.

 

Cllr Martin concluded saying he wanted to thank all the councillors, councils and chambers of commerce who lent their support to Westport Town Council's campaign.

 

 

086 0691182
 

Back to school allowance for Clothing and Footwear

The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance (BTSCFA) is available to families on certain social welfare or other State payments to help with the costs of school clothes and footwear. You may also claim for children aged 18-22 who are in full-time education if you are on a social welfare payment that includes a Qualified Child Increase for them. The scheme runs from June to the end of September each year.

If you are getting a social welfare payment (including Family Income Supplement) or a payment from the Health Service Executive (HSE) you are eligible for BTSCFA if your weekly income is below the following thresholds:

Couple Lone parent
1 child €560 €407
2 children €586 €433
3 children €612 €459
4 children €638 €485
Each additional child €26 €26

If you are on a Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS) or are getting a Back to Education Allowance, you are also eligible. The allowance is also available to people on employment schemes such as Community Employment, Back to Work Allowance, Rural Social Scheme and Revenue Job Assist if their gross weekly household income is less than €317.43 (the threshold for keeping secondary benefits). If they do not meet this condition they can apply under the normal income limits given above.

The allowance paid is €200 for each child aged 2-11 years before 1 October 2009 and €305 for each child aged 12-22 years before 1 October 2009.

 

If you need a form and live in Mayo give me a shout (086) 0691182 or email councillorkeithmartin@gmail.com and I'll post one out to you.

 

Alternatively you can text for application forms for the allowance simply text FORM BTSCFA to 51909 followed by your name and address.

 

Application forms are also available on the Department website at www.welfare.ie or from lo call 1890 20 23 25.

Update

Hello,

 

I have been busy this week taking care of speed ramps in Carrowbeg Estate and trying to get some new ones for St Mary's Crescent.

 

Other issues have been following up on housing queries and housing repairs and maintenance.

 

We have our first monthly meeting of the new council tomorrow night at 6pm in the Civic Offices.  It will be interesting to see how that goes. 

 

I am also still following up on representations and issues from the campaign so I have plenty of paperwork to do.  Also following up with Irish Rail regarding the promised Early Bird Trains and with the national broadband scheme roll out particularly for Aughagower and Kilmeena where there seems to be a real need for it.

 

I will keep you all informed as I make progress.

 

KM

Micandidate

Whatever happened to micandidate? Did you sign up?Did it meet your expectations? Or was it all hype?


-- Post From My iPhone

Political posters

I really can't understand why some people get so wound up about political posters.

Posters are only errected for one month every five years and are a great way for candidates, particularly new candidates, to get their faces known by the electorate and to identify themselves and their politics.

Political postering is ancient and goes right back to the early democracies of Greece and Rome and despite the Internet, media and communications revolution it is always going to be with us because it is cheap, simple and above all effective!

Maybe you don't like looking at my mug on the side of the road but that's my right as a candidate to erect posters and promote myself and my policies, if you don't like them don't look at them; but in a constituency as big a Louth where only 17% of homes have access to broadband, posters are still the most effective way of gaining recognition with the thousands of voters who live maybe 40 to 50 miles away from where I live.

Deputy Mayor Martin

Hi Friends,

 

I write you today as your Deputy Mayor for Westport!  Last night's meeting was very interesting to say the least as FG stretched their muscles and made appointments to committees using their majority to override any opposition.

 

I was elected to serve as Leas Cathaoirleach under Myles Staunton who is this year's Cathaoirleach and I think its going to be a fun year.  It will be interesting to see if FG will wield their majority to great effect or if the council will work as well as it did last term.

 

A week is a long time in politics so we will have to wait and see!

 

KM

I'm back!

Well the dust has settled and I'm back ok Westport Town Council and finished 5th in the county council, pity there's only 4 seats. Got a very respectable 976 votes in county with 602 first preferences. Town vote stayed exactly the same as last time.

Today is AGM of council and it will be very interesting to see how FG who have the majority will handle it when doling out the committees and Chair.

Interesting times for yours truely.

Will update you from the meeting if I get the chance or you can folllow me on Twittet!


-- Post From My iPhone

The End?

Hello All,

Now we face the end and I am just wondering how will it all end?

If you have yet to vote please give me your No 1 vote.

Keith

End to Estate Management Companies

Labour's Cllr Keith Martin has called for an end to the establishment and operation of management companies for private housing estates in Mayo.

 

Cllr Martin who is a seeking re-election to Westport Town Council and election to Mayo County Council says these Management Companies are now imposing "often penal charges on householders for a range of services that would normally have been provided by a local authority."

 

According to Cllr Martin It is now time for Mayo's local authorities to act to stop this practice which is costing home owners over €500 and up to €1,000 per year.

"This is, in effect, yet another stealth tax being imposed on householders. Only last week I was in Louisburgh and there is a new estate "Ard Cahir" where the council is insisting on a management company purely and simply to ensure they don't have to cut the grass and manage the estate.  It's a stealth tax on home owners who are finding it very hard to make ends meet without being subjected to a privatisation of council services."

"The imposition of these charges is an insidious development that adds hugely to the burden of thousands of young householders who are already struggling to meet crippling mortgage payments.

"What has been happening is that when local authority managers are granting permission for housing developments, they are including a condition that key public services, such as roads, open spaces, lighting, water and sewage services be provided for a specified period by private management companies, rather than the local authority itself as would traditionally have been the case.

 

"When signing contracts for the purchase of a house in these areas, couples are effectively being given an ultimatum to sign up to the management companies and to accept the charges they impose. There may be a role for private management companies, run on co-operative basis by residents, in regard to apartment blocks, but there is none in regard to traditional housing developments.

 

"When elected I will make it council policy to prohibit this practise and to wind up existing companies where there services can and should be performed by the council."

 

 

Cllr Keith Martin

086 0691182

Time for Tubberhill

Cllr Keith Martin has called on Westport Town Manager, Peter Hynes, to name the date for the allocation of the Tubberhill Social and Affordable housing scheme.

Cllr Martin says the allocations were supposed to take place in late 2008 and that the council should now name the date for allocating social and affordable housing to successful applicants.

"This is the most important council project in the life of the current council and I am proud to have played my role along with my fellow councillors in funding and approving this scheme.  The housing is completed to the highest building and environmental standards and can be heated all year round for the cost of one tank of oil thanks to the innovative system of heat retention and insulation which was incorporated into the design.  The scheme is ideally suited and located and I think it is an impressive scheme visually and architecturally.

"However I think it is high time that we made the allocations on the units and I have written to the Manager to request that he set a date for the allocation of the units as there is a huge interest and demand for the scheme particularly from people living in the area who want a council or affordable house.  I want to see people moving into those houses before the summer and I look forward to the manager naming the day so we can celebrate some house warmings."

Cllr Keith Martin
086 0691182

Campaign update

11 days to go.

Am covering the Electoral Area and should have called to almost every home in the area by June 5th.

Working hard to get back to voters on each issue as they arrise.

Think June 6th will be a very interesting day.


-- Post From My iPhone

Vote for me

Two weeks to go

With two weeks tomorrow till polling day the tension is getting to Saoirse as you can see in this pic


-- Post From My iPhone

the only bull on my campaign

The only bull in my campaign. He was watching me canvass.



-- Post From My iPhone

Curious in Carrowholly

Here's a curious creature in Carrowholly that I came across on my canvass today. Very friendly he was too! Issues in Carrowholly are roads and jobs. Also concern among farmers worried about milk prices and their treatment at the hands of the Government.




-- Post From My iPhone

Gilmore in Westport

Gilmore in Westport.

Keith Martin

086 0691182

Eamon Gilmore opens our office on James Street

Please find attached a photo of Eamon Gilmore and Susan O'Keefe opening our office on James Street.

Please run it if you can.

Thanks

Keith Martin 

086 0691182

Canvassing

New poster has gone up!

Eamon Gilmore and Susan O'Keefe open Westport Labour Office

 

Filming in Westport worth almost 1,000,000

Filming in Mayo in the last 12 months was worth €785,000 to Westport's economy according to Mayo liaison to the Irish Film Board and local election candidate Cllr Keith Martin.  Cllr Martin says that upon his election to Mayo County Council that he will establish a film office to promote Mayo as a venue for filmmaking.

In 2005 Cllr Martin established Westport Town Council's film budget of €5,000 making Westport the only town council in Ireland to promote itself as a film friendly location, consequently the greater Westport area has reaped the rewards according to the figures released today by Cllr Martin.

According to Cllr Martin "the vast majority of the local spend is from the German film "Heart's Desire" which was filmed in and around Westport last year.  The spend here in Mayo amounted to roughly €750,000 on accommodation, food, equipment, rentals, office hire, transport, labour, extras etc and only last week the Slovenian production 'Circus Fantasticus' finished filming on Silver Stand and they estimate their local spend to have been about €35,000.

"This kind of spend is fantastic for the local economy and is one of the reasons why we must continue to market Westport and Mayo as a venue for filmmaking.  The other spin off benefit is that there is a tourism benefit to being the location for filming.  One only has to look at "Quiet Man" which is still drawing tourists to Mayo from all over the world more than 50 years after it was made."

Cllr Keith Martin has served as the liaison officer with the Irish Film Board since his appointment by the Irish Film Commissioner Naoise Barry in late 2004. 

Following the meeting Cllr Martin and in the absence of a formal film office in Mayo Cllr Martin became the "de facto" Film Commission for Mayo and has been of assistance to many productions scouting Mayo for locations and assisting those filming here in Mayo.

On more than one occasion he has had to put his local knowledge and connections to the test and once at very short notice was able to rustle up a horse in Westport for a film production in Achill at a couple of hours notice!

All of this work is done on a volunteer basis, though Cllr Martin is supported by Mayo County Council and Westport Town Council and both authorities have built a fantastic reputation for themselves as film friendly councils.

To date Cllr Martin has assisted 12 productions since 2004 in Westport and Mayo and Cllr Martin estimates the value of these productions, which include no less than three feature films, to run into millions of euro.

"That is why when I am elected to Mayo County Council that I will establish a full time film office to promote Westport and Mayo as a venue for film making.  We should not forget that Mayo is the home of such memorable and successful films such as "The Quiet Man" and "The Field" which still attract tourism to this day.  Mayo has massive untapped filming potential and I will exploit that to create jobs and attract investment."

 Keith Martin

086 0691182

 

 

 

Wreath laying to mark May Day and Michael Davitt

Friends and supporters of the Labour Party watch as Cllr Keith Martin and David Fallon of the Westport Labour Party lay a wreath at the Michael Davitt memorial on the Newport Road, Westport to mark May Day and the contribution of Michael Davitt to the Labour movement.

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Keith Martin

Water Charges for homes will be resisted

Cllr Keith Martin of the Labour Party has condemned remarks made by the Environment Minister John Gormley in which the Minister said that the reintroduction of domestic water charges was inevitable.

 

According to Cllr Martin Minister Gormley's remarks "will cause alarm among hard-pressed householders who are already under the financial cosh.

"If the reintroduction of water charges is 'inevitable', it is only because Fianna Fail and the John Gormley's Greens are in office. Domestic water charges were scrapped by the Labour Party in 1997 and Labour have consistently opposed their reintroduction ever since.

"I have no doubt that Minister Gormley's remarks will reverberate around the country and that it will come up at local level as council election candidates go knocking on doors.

"Labour councillors and candidates will be assuring voters that at national and at local level, we will resist, come what may, the reintroduction of domestic water charges.

"Labour believes that everyone has the right to free, clean, safe drinking water. In addition we believe that any move to privatise the public water supply should be opposed."

 

Keith Martin

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Photos of Sod being mailed to Minister O'Keefe

Please find attached photos of Cllr Keith Martin posting the recently turned sod of earth for Westport's Gaelscoil back to the Minister for Education.

 

Keith Martin

086 0691182

Sod off as sod returned

Sod Off! as Minister sent sod by registered mail

 

Labour's Cllr Keith Martin has told the Minister for Education Batt O'Keffee TD "to keep his sod until he presents the pupils of Westport's Gaelscoil na Cruaiche with a contract for their new school."

 

Cllr Martin has taken the unusual step of posting the actual sod turned by Batt O'Keeffe at the school's site last week to the Minister's office in Dublin with a letter asking him to return the sod only when he has secured a contract for the building work.

 

"It is most unusual that a sod turning ceremony should take place without a contact being in place to begin the building.  I think the sod turning by the Minister has more to do with the upcoming local elections than with the provision of a school building.

 

"The problem is that this school was given the go-ahead in 2006 and the question is why are the pupils and their parents still waiting for their much promised building and why was it only Fianna Fail councillors and the Cathaoirleach who were invited to the ceremony and not all nine members of the council?"

"You only have to look to Davitt College in Castlebar who have had so many false starts to their sports hall to see where this kind of empty gesture gets you.  No sod should be turned until a contract is in place.  Anything else is just for show.

 

"I have been involved in the campaign for a new school building since my election in 2004, I attended every rally and protest for the school here in Westport and I met with the parents and management when they presented the petition to the council looking for a site and at that meeting promised them my full support.

 

"As Chairman of the Pairc na Coille residents association and as the only councillor on the Golf Course Road I facilitated the proposal to find a site on the Golf Course Road for the school and as a councillor I voted to sell the site to the Dept of Education for the school when Westport Town Council granted full planning permission for the site.

 

"I have also made numerous representations on behalf of the school and the Parliamentary Labour party, have at my request, asked several Parliamentary Questions on the issue.

 

"I welcome the news that the school is once again back on the agenda after three years of no action what-so-ever but the school has been waiting 14 years for a new building and I think it is just a joke that Minister can swing into my area and turn a sod for a building without a contractor being appointed. 

 

"I only hope that there will be real action on the school but in the meantime the Minister can keep his sod until he delivers a contract.  Then he can have his ceremony and I hope everyone will be invited this time!"

 

 

Letter to the Editor-Mayo needs a wizard

Dear Editor,

Since his elevation to Junior Minister status Dara Calleary has repeatedly stated, in relation to the challenges facing us here in Mayo, for example, job losses, lack of rural broadband, no decent N5 to Dublin, terrible drinking water quality, etc etc, that he is a Minister and not a wizard.

Are the problems here in Mayo now so bad that they require a wizard rather than some investment from the government?  If so wouldn't Minister Caleary be better off at Hogwarts with Harry Potter rather than Oireacthas Eireann with Brian Cowen?

Yours sincerely

Keith Martin

Cllr

33 Pairc na Coille

Westport

Co. Mayo

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Gilmore visit to Westport

The Leader of the Labour Party, Eamon Gilmore will be visiting Westport on May 8th.  He will be canvassing Westport with Labour's Westport Town and County candidates David Fallon and Cllr Keith Martin, meeting with some members of the Westport community and will make a short speech at a public meeting on Castlebar Street at 3.45pm after which he will offically launch the Westport Labour's Billboard campaign. All are welcome to attend.

 

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Photos from the launch of my billboard

Hi!

Here are some photos from the official launch of my Billboard today.

Labour team photo:   John Tiernan, Andy Martin, David Fallon, Keith Martin, Sean Sammon, John McDonnell

Much lager files sizes available.  Please use the photo compliments of Labour Party.  Please credit them to Stephen O'Brien.

Thanks

Keith

Jimmy Devins-shames us all

Sligo/north Leitrim TD FORMER MINISTER of state Jimmy Devins has sparked a furious reaction from cancer campaigners in the northwest yesterday when he suggested he was being punished for supporting the retention of the local breast cancer unit at Sligo General Hospital.

 

Jimmy Devins did attend rallies in support of the retention of cancer care services in Sligo

 

however

• at the time he was the Junior Minister for Health
• he voted with the government to close the service in Sligo

|n an interview on local radio he said he had been lobbying for the retention of the breast cancer services in Sligo and "I have paid a heavy price".

His remarks were branded as "hypocritical" by a spokesman for the Save Sligo Cancer Services support group Killian McLaughlin.

He said Mr Devins had repeatedly in face-to-face meetings with the group argued that Minister for Health Mary Harney was doing the right thing. "He betrayed the people of Sligo and now Fianna Fáil has betrayed him," said Mr McLaughlin.

Too right.

 

Politicians like him who lie to the electorate are a disgrace to politicians of all parties. 

 

Shame on you Deputy Devins!

 

My Billboard is up

This is my billboard which as just been put up on Castlebar Street.

What do ya think?

Get registered by May 18th

 Cllr Keith Martin has warned that anyone who is not yet registered to
vote only has until May 18th to get themselves on the electoral
register.

According to Cllr Martin "Anyone not on the register must complete an
application form (RFA2) for inclusion in the supplement to the
2009/2010 Register or if you are on the register but have moved
address from one Dáil constituency, or local electoral area, to
another you must complete an application form (RFA3).

"English and Irish versions of these forms are available for download
from http://www.checktheregister.ie/, directly from Mayo County
Council or from your nearest library.

"Completed forms should be returned directly to Mayo County Council.
In order to vote in the upcoming Local and European elections being
held on June 5th 2009, the completed forms must reach the County
Secretary of Mayo County Council not later than Monday May 18th 2009."

Keith Martin

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My Speech at campaign launch

A CAIRDE

 

I am not going to stand here and make you a load of promises nor am I going to stand here and tell you how bad the government is.

 

I would love to promise everyone everything and I would love to tell you what I think about Fianna Fail and the Green Party and what they have done to our country.

 

I am not going to tell you that Brian Cowen is a disaster

 

Or that Fianna Fail have bankrupted this country to enrich their developer friends. 

 

You might think that…………………………………………………………..

 

but I couldn't possibly comment!

 

Instead I am going to outline what Labour is going to do for you; what David and I will do on Westport Town Council; what Harry Barret, David Moffat and I are going to do on Mayo County Council.

 

But first to recap my work so far

 

In my five years on westport town council I have ensured the replanting of the Northwoods,

I have ensured new pavements for the Quay Hill and the Pond.

I have established a budget for promoting Westport as a venue for film-making which has been a huge success.

I have worked hard with my committees to establish a Food and Craft market on the Mall and to make Westport one of Ireland's first Fairtrade towns.

I have fully supported the provision of Affordable and Social housing at Tubberhill and the re-development of the former fire station to social housing and housing for returned emigrants who have come home to Westport and As a member of the Multi Agency Jobs Creation Taskforce I am working hard to promote our town to employers and am lobbying for investment, infrastructure and job creation.

But this meeting is not about what Labour has achieved it is about what Labour will achieve in the next five years in Westport and Mayo.

Our number one priority is jobs,……….Work and Wages.

We will not allow this area, and this community, to slip backwards in the economics of the 1980s. 

We will not allow our young to be reared for export once again.

We Must not allow emigration to return.

To achieve this

We will create jobs and will work with businesses and investors to create jobs.

We will ensure that your demand for jobs and infrastructure is heard at local, regionally and national level.

We will create an allotments scheme to allow those who have no access to land to grown their own vegetables

We will fight tooth and nail the closures of rural post offices.

We will fight to ensure small farmers are treated fairly by local and national government.

We will ensure that people are able to live in their own areas in affordable homes.

We will ensure that conservation is every bit as important as conservation.

We will fight for high speed broadband throughout this county and not just where it suits broadband companies.

We will establish a film office to promote this county, the home of the quiet man and the field as a venue for filmmaking.

We will ensure that Mayo county council makes the n5 its number one priority

We will ensure that irish rail provides an early bird service from mayo to dublin.

We will leave no-one behind.

We will not allow this government to bully us into agreeing with its retrogressive and punitive cuts by threatening us with disaster if we do not agree.

Ruling through fear is not government; it is a Failure to Govern.

Finally I want to say this to the people of Westport, Murrisk, Louisburgh, Aughagower

Do not be afraid.

We can get through this

We will get through this

Things can only get better!

 

 

Help Keith's Campaign

Want to give my campaign a hand?

Would you be interested in helping me

• Canvass
• Put up posters
• Distribute leaflets and newsletters
• Raise funds
  
  

If so, please email me at councillorkeithmartin@gmail.com or call/text me on 086 0691182 anytime. My Office number is 098 24852.

Election Promise

In the LAST FIVE YEARS I have worked hard to achieve my goals as a local councilor.

Since my election in 2004 I have ensured the replanting of the Northwoods, ensured new pavements for the Quay Hill and the Pond, I have worked to slow traffic to make our roads and streets safe for pedestrians and I have established a budget for promoting Westport as a venue for film-making which has been a huge success.

I have worked hard with my committees to establish a Food and Craft market on the Mall and to make Westport one of Ireland's first Fairtrade towns.

I have fully supported the provision of Affordable and Social housing at Tubberhill and the re-development of the former fire station to social housing and housing for returned emigrants who have come home to Westport. 

As a member of the Multi Agency Jobs Creation Taskforce I  work hard to promote our town to employers and to lobby for investment and job creation.

I continue to campaign for a upgraded N5, an Early Bird Train service and a Fibre-Optic broadband link for the area.

Now it is time for the next step and I need your No. 1 vote.

Vote MARTIN 1 for MAYO

I have many plans and policies but I am making only one promise to you.  No-one will work harder for you than I will.