Minister Ring told to 'butt out'

Monday, 09 May 2011 11:07

Labour Councillor Harry Barrett has hit out strongly against the interventions of Minister of State Michael Ring in asking for a department examination of the decision of Castlebar Town Council and Mayo Country Council to buy the Imperial Hotel in Castlebar.
Councillor Barrett claims the Minister of State has 'misrepresented the facts' and has added to the stress of workers in the local authority.
He also is enraged that as Minister of State with responsibility for tourism, Minister Ring is attempting to 'scupper' plans by the two local authorities to salvage one of the country's most historic buildings.
Councillor Barrett stated: "It is unbelievable the minister would attempt to suggest jobs could be maintained if the Imperial plan was dropped.
"With a shortfall of €9 million this year alone, this was never going to happen. This sort of ill-advised comment is leading workers to believe jobs could be saved, adding to the worry people are having within the council about jobs."
Secondly, he said, the minister had failed to explain that there would be no forced redundancies.
Said Councillor Barrett: "Nobody will be laid off. The Croke Park Agreement does not permit forced lay-offs.
"I am informed that the number of 152 jobs will be dealt with as people retire and as they transfer from one area to another."
Mayo County Council, he continued, could do more to explain the situation to the workers, but the facts are that the Government the minister is a part of will impose cuts and the council must act to rationalise their costs.
With an 80 per cent drop in planning activity and a shortfall of €9 million for 2011, work arrangements had to change. The plan to save the Imperial will actually save money for the council in leasing costs for existing office space.
Councillor Barrett said he couldn't understand how a minister for tourism would intervene to stop the development of one of the country's most historic buildings.
"Michael Davitt and James Daly, founders of the Land League, are revered in Castlebar. Events within the Imperial Hotel began the process of returning the land of Ireland to the people of Ireland.
"The Imperial is about to see the roof fall in and Minister Ring wants to let it go.
"Fortunately, we have a town council with a bit of foresight and Castlebar councillors who understand the significance of maintaining Davitt and Daly's heritage," he stated.
Councillor Barrett added: "The minister should now really butt out.
"Castlebar councillors want to save the Imperial Hotel from dereliction. It's actually a disgrace we have to justify ourselves on such an important issue.
"It's a Castlebar issue being dealt with by a Castlebar Town Council and Mayo County Council. If the Imperial was located in Westport, this issue would not arise.
"The minister's unwanted intervention now demands a statement from the Mayor of Castlebar."