Meeting with Taoiseach must not be a case of more tick-box tokenism from Fine Gael
31 May 2024
The Taoiseach has confirmed to Labour TD Ged Nash that he will meet the Love Drogheda BIDS group on the 25th June.
The confirmation came after the local Labour TD raised the need for such a meeting with the Taoiseach on the floor of the Dail two weeks ago, on the day the Drogheda BIDS’ assessment showing a nett €15.8million loss to the Drogheda economy arising from the closure of the D Hotel, was published.
Deputy Nash said: “Drogheda has had enough tokenism from Fine Gael Ministers. If whistlestop tours and photo opportunities with government Ministers counted for anything, our small city would be booming.
“On foot of the D Hotel decision, local Councillors and the business community met with the then Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and other Ministers.
“At that meeting, the then Fine Gael leader, when pressed on the need for a targeted business support package for affected Drogheda businesses and workers said glibly that he ‘won’t be subsidising businesses.’
“This is some statement to make when the current government has dedicated hundreds of millions in taxpayer subsidies through, for example, the Increased Cost of Business Grant scheme.
“The current Taoiseach must change his tune and the meeting secured for the 25th June must not be another exercise in tedious, tick-box tokenism from government.
“I told the Taoiseach in the Dail that an independent economic analysis commissioned by Love Drogheda makes it clear that the loss to Drogheda workers, businesses and to the Exchequer from the decommissioning of the D Hotel is now reckoned to be close to €16million. The findings are stark.
“A substantial support package for Drogheda must emerge from the 25th June meeting. The success or otherwise of this meeting will undoubtedly set the tone ahead of the general election which is likely to take place before the end of this year.”
ENDS