With the Local elections scheduled for the 24th May 2019, the County Carlow Chamber worked to engage with and challenge the candidates looking for votes across the three municipal districts.
Hustings were organised for Muine Bheag Municipal District (9th May), Tullow Municipal District (14th May) and Carlow Municipal District (16th May). In each instance, invitations were sent to all candidates. The invitations advised that all candidates would be allocated time to present their visions before we continue into a forum examining several topics including taking questions from members and guests.
County Carlow Chamber of Commerce is the voice of business in County Carlow and lobbies locally and nationally representing the views of its members to Local Government, National Government and the European Union. As an independent organisation, the Chamber is not restricted in its ability to lobby and challenge. The Chamber has and will continue to engage with our locally elected officials as issues and challenges need to be addressed and it is important for us to know that the individuals who are elected to represent the businesses, communities and people of Carlow have:
- A vision for what they want to achieve
- Clear objectives
- The skills, understanding and knowledge to deliver
- The ability to ask the tough questions and challenge the system
And importantly we need to know that they will not disappear into the background for the next 5 years, only to re-emerge when the next local election is scheduled.
Why did the Chamber run the Hustings?
Over the last number of years, the Chamber has found that some of our elected officials are always willing to engage and discuss the issues with a view to understanding how we can move Carlow forward; additionally, we have seen some candidates who have rarely to never engaged.
It is vital to the continued development of Carlow that the officials we elect have the ability and vision to deliver. The hustings allowed the candidates to present their visions and discuss the topics of importance to the businesses and communities of Carlow.
The Chamber will continue to engage with all elected officials to ensure that Carlow moves forward.
The Chamber is registered with the Standards in Public Office Commission under the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015, and in line with the requirements of the act all details of our lobbying is submitted and readily available; with details of who we are lobbying and on what subjects.
The Chamber represents 200 businesses across Carlow, employing in the region of 5000 people and contributing to the county in many ways. When engaging a representative from the Chamber, you engage with all the members and board. We need to ensure that the environment is right for our businesses and communities.
What was the format
- Initiations were issued to all candidates at the start of May. The invitations explained the reason for the hustings and also provided details including date, location. The invitation was issued via e-mail, followed up by a phone call and also a reminder e-mail as the events were due.
- The hustings were promoted to the members and public through a number of channels including social media, local media and direct Chamber communications.
- The hustings opened with all candidates presenting their visions. This was an opportunity to highlight why they are running and what they hope to achieve and deliver should they be elected.
- This was followed by a panel discussion on a range of topics relevant to the municipal district and the county
- The final part of the eventing was an open questions and answers session
- Throughout the night, the event was live tweeted on @carlowchamber with details also through facebook including video of closing statements by the candidates
Muine Bheag Municipal District
- Ms Josie Daly
Mr Philip Gahan
Cllr Arthur McDonald
Cllr Michael Doran
Cllr William Quinn - Cllr Andy Gladney
Cllr Tom Kinsella
Cllr Denis Foley
Mr David O’Brien
- Fianna Fail
Fianna Fail
Fianna Fail
Fine Gael
The Labour Party - Sinn Fein
Fine Gael
Fine Gael
Non-Party
- Attended
Attended
Attended
Attended
Attended - Not in Attendance
Not in Attendance
Not in Attendance
Not in Attendance
Video of Candidate Closing Remarks
Cllr Quinn was not present for final remarks as he had to depart the event to attend a prior scheduled.
What was discussed:
- Commercial Rates & Subvention
- Rural Transportation
- Derelict Sites
- Planning & Housing
- Tourism
- Grants & Funding
- Community
- Environment
- Promotion of South Carlow
Tullow Municipal District
- Cllr Brian O’Donoghue
Cllr William Paton - Mr Billy Nolan
Mr John McDonald
Cllr John Pender
Cllr Jim Deane
Cllr Charlie Murphy
Ms Maria Ansbro
Cllr John Murphy
Ms Helena Byrne
- Fine Gael
The Labour Party - Non-Party
Fianna Fail
Fianna Fail
Sinn Fein
Non-Party
Fine Gael
Fine Gael
Renua
- Attended
Attended - Not in Attendance
Not in Attendance
Not in Attendance
Not in Attendance
Not in Attendance
Not in Attendance
Not in Attendance
Not in Attendance
Video of Candidate Closing Remarks
What was discussed:
- Commercial Rates & Subvention
- Transportation
- Bridge works in Tullow
- Derelict Sites
- Planning & Housing
- Tourism & Heritage
- Grants & Funding
- Community & Sport
- Environment
- Animal Rights
Carlow Municipal District
- Cllr Fintan Phelan
Cllr Ken Murnane
Mr Ciarán Dooley
Mr Wayne Fennell - Ms Mary Hande
Cllr John Cassin
Ms Adrienne Wallace
Cllr Andrea Dalton
Cllr Fergal Browne
Mr Tom O’Neill
Mr Bernard Jennings
Mr Kevin Byrne
- Fianna Fail
Fianna Fail
Sinn Fein
Fine Gael - Aontu
Non-Party
Solidarity – PBP
Fianna Fail
Fine Gael
Fine Gael
Non-Party
The Labour Party
- Attended
Attended
Attended
Attended - Not in Attendance
Not in Attendance
Not in Attendance
Not in Attendance
Not in Attendance
Not in Attendance
Not in Attendance
Not in Attendance
Video of Candidate Closing Remarks
What was discussed:
- Commercial Rates & Subvention
- Local Property Tax
- Business Supports
- Presentation of Carlow
- Derelict Sites
- Planning & Housing
- Tourism & Heritage
- Grants & Funding
- Environment
- Ducketts Grove
- Events
Where can I get more details?
- The events were live tweeted, have a look over the twitter threads of County Carlow Chamber for more in depth detail #OurTimeToVote
- Check out Carlow Chamber Facebook.
- Contact the Chamber on 059 91 32337
Communicating the Events
- The events were live tweeted, with over 75.1k Impressions on Twitter
- The posts through Facebook reached over 30k with over 15k engagements
On the 24th May, don’t waste your voice, have your say and vote!