‘I’m disappointed things seem to be as they were’

COMMUNITY and business groups have expressed disappointment at the failure of Labour and Fine Gael to meet promises after an investigation by the Irish Examiner revealed undelivered pledges made at the local elections.

Former Government coalition partners the Green Party also warned about the use of “auction politics” by the opposition parties after the probe revealed a string of unfulfilled pledges made to voters.

The Cork mother of a boy with a prosthetic leg said she was angry that the expected downgrading of St Mary’s Orthopaedic Hospital was not being stopped.

Fine Gael had pledged in a key manifesto launched just days before the 2009 local elections that it would fight the downgrading of local hospitals, including the north city hospital. The party went on to win a majority of local seats, effectively taking leadership of Cork City Council.

Margaret Kiely said she was worried about the continuity of care for her 12-year-old son, Ronan, who lost his leg in a lawnmower accident when he was two-years-old, with staff in the hospital telling her facilities were being dropped.

“I’m disappointed things seem to be as they were. This downgrading was always going to go ahead and nobody seems to have moved to stop it.” Ms Kiely is part of a campaign, called Walk On, to retain prosthetic services in Cork.

The Irish Examiner analysis also revealed a host of voter-friendly pledges by Fine Gael candidates before the 2009 polling day on transport, roads and funds for the city’s development that were never fulfilled.

The analysis also revealed that Labour, who took control of Dublin City Council after the local elections, have failed to deliver on attractive promises for voters.

Business leaders in the capital expressed disappointment at the failure to so far to deliver key pledges.

“It’s always disappointing when these things are not delivered. The cultural quarter would have had a good impact on business in the area,” said Dublin Chamber of Commerce chief executive Gina Quin.

“I think there’s a need for realism among the candidates going forward for the election while also a need for vision and imagination.”

Meanwhile, the Green Party yesterday warned of candidates peddling “auction politics” on the doorsteps.

“The Irish Examiner’s investigation of what happens to Fine Gael and Labour election promises when they do attain power is timely and revealing. n 2009 these parties were writing cheques they couldn’t cash,” said party finance spokesman Dan Boyle.