Waterford Airport Protest: 'The state are not doing their fair share'
Waterford Says No, turned up at John Roberts Square where Sinn Féin where holding a protest for funding the Airport. Picture by Joe Evans.
Around 80 people gathered in John Robert’s Square last Friday to demand funding for the runway extension project at Waterford Airport.
The protest was organised by Waterford Sinn Fein TDs Conor McGuinness and David Cullinane.
They said the protest was to demand that the Government provide the capital funding to extend the runway at Waterford Airport and put pressure on Ministers for State Mary Butler and John Cummins to deliver the project for Waterford.
“Government marched our expectations up to the top of the hill fortnight ago and the result of that was to ask for a business case and new proposal when proposals have been gathering dust on successive Minister for Transport's desks for years,” said Deputy McGuinness.
He said the airport is just one example of underfunding in Waterford and the South East region.
And that there is huge frustration locally from the people, representatives and the business community.
Deputy Cullinane said the Government are “dragging their feet” but his and Deputy McGuinness' focus is on making the most out of Waterford’s four Dail seats.
“It is up to Mary Butler and John Cummins to develop this at cabinet level. There is an economic need and there is a social need as well. It’s one of the things that will enhance the whole South East region.
"You have three local authorities who are ready to invest money into the airport, Wexford, Kilkenny and Waterford and yet the state is not doing its fair share,” said Deputy McGuinness.
Metro councillor Joeanne Bailey also attended the protest.
She said there were opportunities through multiple parliamentary questions to say the business case submitted was not enough.
Cllr Baily said, “The goal posts have changed again.” “I feel the Government have let us down. Business plans have been sent back and forward, and now they are looking for us to jump through hoops again.
"I think Waterford deserves an airport. We need it for economic growth, and it's just to get out and get our voices heard for an airport, not just needed in Waterford, but for the south east, said Cllr Bailey.
In the run up to the protest, Former TD Matt Shanahan called the protest “political theatre” and “pure gaslighting.” Deputy Cullinane said Mr Shanahan had his chance in the Dail and in the last election.
He said that when Sinn Fein put down motions of no confidence in the last government, Mr Shanahan didn’t turn up for most of them.
And, he said if he were interested in the airport, Mr Shanahan would be standing with them now.
“So we are not going to take lectures from someone who had their chance in the election, and it seems to me to be sour grapes,” said Deputy Cullinane.
The protest on Friday was attended by seven counter protesters from Waterford Says No.
They carried two banners with their name and a placard that read “ Sinn Fein are traitors, Brits out, 3rd world in and a picture of a snake.
They could be heard throughout the demonstration, jeering and heckling with their issues seemingly ranging from their view of gender and sex to Matt Shanahan’s call for Sinn Fein to bring a motion to Government.
They seemed particularly concerned with Deputy Cullinane.
But, Deputy Cullinane said he was not very concerned about them.
“I don’t have a lot to say. They are very small in number. They are people that, as you can see, are very toxic in what they are saying and very toxic in their analysis of society in general. They don’t share our values.
“They came here deliberately because we are holding this protest. And that is a matter for them. I mean people are entitled to protest. People are entitled to counter-protest if that is what they want to do. But it won’t take away from our focus,” said Deputy Cullinane.
