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Donegal's 'death by a thousand cuts'  12.05.08

SINN Féin will today launch a major campaign calling for the regeneration of the west of Ireland from Donegal to Kerry.
The campaign 'The West's Awake - from Kerry to Donegal we demand our rights' calls on all political parties and organisations in the West to come together to agree a platform to ensure the survival of the region.
Sinn Féin Senator Pearse Doherty will later join his Kerry North colleague, Martin Ferris, TD to launch the campaign in Clare, Sligo, Leitrim, Roscommon and Kerry with launches in other counties on the western seaboard following in the weeks ahead. Inishowen Councillor Pádraig MacLochlainn will also be involved in the campaign and hopes to meet with a cross-section of the community including farmers and local chambers of commerce, the Gardai and members of the GAA.
Senator Doherty explained the reasons behind the campaign: "The west of Ireland is suffering death by a thousand cuts. Recent years have seen the loss of traditional farming, fishing and manufacturing jobs, the closure and running down of public services, the withdrawal of public transport and the closure of rural schools, shops, pubs and Garda stations. It is time to fight back."
Senator Doherty has produced an official report for the Oireachtas Committee on Community, Rural and Gaeltacht affairs called 'What is required to develop the West of Ireland?' It will be presented to the committee before Christmas.
He added: "People in the west of Ireland have a right to share in the prosperity of the State. They have a right to a decent job, have a right to proper transport links, a right to adequate public services and a right to all of the amenities that allow you to live a full life. But none of this will happen by chance."
Meanwhile, during the summer, Sinn Féin also intends to hold public consultation meetings in towns and villages across the west. Anyone who wishes to make a written submission on what needs to be done to ensure the survival of the west should send it to pearse.doherty@oireachtas.ie  Today's Donegal launch takes place in the Clanree Hotel, Letterkenny, at 11am.
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