Minister Mansergh rejects threats of electoral retribution
Dear Editor,
Your correspondent John Marsh, (29 July) claims I would support a ban on live coursing (where dogs are now muzzled), or live exports, which is nonsense, because neither is part of the original or revised Programme for Government, and because no Government including Fianna Fil would dream of introducing either. He quotes me as a Senator in 2004 warning about policies to phase out live exports, ban phosphates, and insist on 10% organic farming, if there were a Rainbow Coalition including the Greens, without acknowledging that none of these have come about or been adopted by the Fianna Fil-Green Coalition. Politically, I support all field sports legally practised in this county, and personally we allow the hunt access over our land. I remain proud of the Seanad nomination I received in 2002 from the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association, which was the first step in my election, and I was able to assist publicly in defeating successive incinerator and related proposals for Rosegreen, which could have driven the world-famous equine industry out of Co. Tipperary.
The people who misjudged the stag-hunting issue were the RISE campaign, who thought that the best way of protecting the weak link in the chain in Co. Meath, was by making highly exaggerated and emotive claims that all field sports were at risk. It has since been acknowledged by the national spokesman for RISE, though not yet by your correspondent, that actually none of them are, though now claiming the credit for what was the reality all along. The campaign was characterized by the most aggressive lobbying campaign I have yet come across on any issue, designed to split the Coalition parties and defeat both the Bill and the Government.
As Minister of State at the Department of Finance representing Ireland at EU Budget Councils, I have been able since 2008,working in a strong alliance with France and Poland, so far to protect agreed Common Agricultural Policy Funding up to 2013, which accounts for 80% of Ireland’s EU receipts. It means that Ireland is likely still to be a net recipient of EU funds in 2011 to the tune of €400m. CAP funding is particularly vital to Irish farmers and rural dwellers, including in Co. Tipperary, and it is an issue I am strong on, not least given my own involvement in farming. Noting your correspondent’s Ardfinnan address, I am particularly pleased to have been able personally to ensure that Ardfinnan was included last November in the first round of the Minor Flood Relief Schemes, which I introduced as OPW Minister a year ago. The works at Ardfinnan, carried out by South Tipperary County Council with OPW funding, are now nearly complete.
I leave it to your readers to judge, whether I am more usefully employed as a Minister of State, or whether I should, as badly advised, have sacrificed any further power I have to do good both for Ireland and for the constituency of Tipperary South, in order, probably vainly, to preserve stag-hunting in Co. Meath. It is all a question of political judgment, including of local priorities, and keeping some sense of realism and proportion. Threats of electoral retribution are made all the time on many issues. I am not moved by any of them, only disappointed that more people do not have a higher estimation of the backbone of those they elect, and whom they will be free in due course to unelect or reelect, and am not going to be pushed around in the meantime.
I note that your correspondent quotes approvingly Mairead McGuinness, Fine Gael MEP from Co. Meath. My Fianna Fil parliamentary colleagues in Co. Meath certainly believe that there was a strong party political influence behind the recent campaign, and they implored the rest of us living far away not to make their life more difficult on an issue impacting directly on them.
Yours ,
Martin Mansergh, TD
Minister of State,
OPW, Finance and Culture
Friarsfield House,
Tipperary.
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Wednesday 08 February 2012
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