A chance to rebalance the books for the West

Anyone who knows Dara Calleary realised straight away that attending the infamous ‘Golf-gate’ dinner in Clifden in August 2020 was a grave lapse of judgment rather than arrogance or contempt for the Covid-19 regulations.

He was there to pay tribute to a close family friend, the late Mark Killilea, and his swift action in resigning spoke volumes. He thought the event was compliant but once it was apparent it was not, unlike others, he did not try to brazen it out.

It was a huge blow for Calleary’s personal ambitions but also for what he might be able to do for his county and region from a senior cabinet role.

There was justifiable anger when he was not appointed to a senior ministry by Micheál Martin in the spring of 2020. The role of Government Chief Whip was seen as a snub for someone who was Fianna Fáil Deputy Leader and one of their more capable performers.

But then a glorious opportunity fell into his lap when Barry Cowen was sacked as Minister for Agriculture after 17 days over a controversy which emerged after a drink driving conviction from 2016 was revealed. However, that ministry appeared to be a poisoned chalice when Calleary himself only lasted 37 days.

He is still relatively young, aged 51, despite the sense he has been around politics forever. He was born into it, the third generation of his family to be a TD for Mayo.

So he had time to bounce back but it was up to the electorate if that opportunity would present itself again. His vote held solid in Mayo and he was re-elected, no worse for wear from ‘Golf-gate’, in polling stations in his county.

With Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil always appearing very likely to head up the next government, the question then was at Micheál Martin’s door. Was there an opening for a return to a senior cabinet role?

There are no certainties in politics. Calleary’s ability is apparent but it alone is no guarantee of anything.

Calleary’s stoic and dignified response to his darkest hours in politics likely benefitted him. Perhaps the Taoiseach looked around the Fianna Fáil benches and did not see enough quality in the ranks. Could he really afford to overlook Calleary?

The end result is Dara Calleary has returned to cabinet and his career trajectory is back on track. Leadership of his party cannot be discounted down the line.

But for now, it is the role of Minister for Social Protection and Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht where Dara Calleary finds himself. It’s a mouthful and a half and more than a job and a half.

There is a very strong argument that each of those three components should have its own minister – Social Protection; Rural and Community Development; and the Gaeltacht. But they are all at the door of the Ballina man and the latter two are particularly relevant to this part of the world.

Regardless of the brief, any senior cabinet minister is in a position to deliver for their area. I’ve written in the past how this ought not be the case but that’s not how Ireland works.

Strong and forceful political representation matters and in the west of Ireland, it is not a case of looking for more than your fair share, but trying to rebalance the huge deficits in spending and investment in the western region for generations.

The Northern and Western Region (Connacht plus Cavan, Monaghan and Donegal) was classed as a ‘lagging region’ by the European Union when our GDP fell to 71% of the European average.

In terms of infrastructural development, the Northern and Western Region is ranked an alarming 218th out of 234 regions across Europe. Our Midlands and Eastern Region scores over three times higher for infrastructural development.

The spending discrimination was highlighted last year by the Northern and Western Regional Assembly (NWRA). This region has received less than 10% of the nationwide investment in infrastructure projects worth more than €1 million, despite accounting for 17.6% of Ireland’s population. In contrast, the Eastern and Midlands Region of Ireland received 66.5% of investment from projects worth more than €1 million, despite the region accounting for less than 50% of the population of Ireland.

So if you read any national outcry about any spending that comes the West’s way in the coming years, don’t lose any sleep over it.

Infrastructure is key. Independent Galway East TD Seán Canney is one of the most impressive politicians around and, as part of the Regional Independents who are supporting the Government, has been handed a ‘super junior’ ministry, Minister of State for International and Road Transport, Logistics, Rail and Ports.

The import of this won’t be lost on anyone who has been following the campaign for the restoration of the Western Rail Corridor from Athenry to Tuam and onto Claremorris. Canney has long been in favour of its restoration.

It was included in the All Island Rail Review last year, and it is widely believed it will be incorporated into the revised National Development Plan due to be published in the summer. Canney’s role ought to accelerate matters, while Calleary has long been in favour of its reopening too.

The import of extending the line from Claremorris north to Sligo then takes on a greater significance and this could also be a key part of Canney’s role.

Ireland West Airport Managing Director Joe Gilmore called last week for a motorway from Tuam to Sligo and onwards to Derry and also for the reopening of the Western Rail Corridor to Sligo. Such critical infrastructure, along with maximising the potential of the proposed Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) at Knock Airport, could be transformative for the region.

It is never too late to correct the errors of the past. What has certainly changed in recent years is the insight and understanding people in this region have about regional development and how short-changed the West has been in this regard.

Perhaps there is a greater understanding among the political classes on the need to deliver for this region. Because the quiet acceptance of the past is exactly that – a thing of the past. Perhaps all too often it facilitated indifference from various governments.

It is great to see two very capable and very decent politicians from this region in high office but they will both know the real work only starts now.