Job creation, job retention and stimulating the local economy is paramount says newly elected Cathaoirleach
Issued : Friday 24 June, 2011
As Mayor of Fingal I am looking forward to a challenging and exciting year ahead in a County that will be the heartland of Irelands Economic Recovery and will remain a great place to live work and do business. Ireland faces many significant challenges and Fingal is no different.
During the boom Fingal Co. Council led the way as Irelands most progressive Local Authority to become one of the country's greatest success stories. Even in this utterly different economic climate Fingal County Council is focusing its efforts to make ourselves the focus of Ireland recovery. Job creation, job retention and stimulating the local economy is of paramount importance which will be my primary focus in the year ahead and I know that every member here will agree and support my efforts to see this through.
Fingal Development Board & Fingal Enterprise Board are playing a pivotal role in this regard and should be supported in their endeavours'.
The recently finalised Fingal County Development 2011-2017 puts a significant emphasis on the Economic Development of Fingal and we will work hard to make sure that Fingal continues to be open for business.
Of Crucial Importance is the delivery of Metro North which is a Critical Infrastructural Project and on which the success of our Development Plan depends. This project will be self financing and will bring Fingal Transport into the 21st century. This must go ahead and I will do all in my power with your support to see that it comes about.
While commercial rates play a major role in our funding programme I have received numerous requests from people in business who are experiencing difficulty in meeting these demands. It is time that the mechanism for determining rates is reviewed and a new method of assessment introduced to replace the old outdated system. Similarly the rent upwards only system has to be changed to reflect the current economic situation. We must send out a clear message that Fingal is PRO-Business and PRO-JOBS.
We will work closely with all partner agencies in business and enterprise to encourage inward investment and job creation in Fingal. To this end I am looking forward to working with all the main stakeholders in the County, Chambers of Commerce, Dublin Airport Authority and the Community and Voluntary Sector to ensure a better future for all in Fingal.
I am sure that my Father Ernie McGuire would have been very proud if he could have been with me here today to see me elected Mayor of Fingal. He was a Labour Councillor for 39 years and introduced me to politics.
To my wife & family who have supported me in my political life I say thank you very much and my gratitude goes to my brothers and sisters who travelled from Offaly, Laois, Cork, Wexford, Monaghan, Westmeath to be with me here today also I send greetings to my siblings in Nigeria, Saudia Arabia and the United States who cannot be here.
At a Community Level we can look forward to many important achievements in 2011-2012. This Council has always worked hard to provide coherent community facilities. The Fingal Schools Model is bearing fruit and will see at least 8 new Community Facilities opened in the coming year as a direct result of our work with the Department of Education & Science. This is a huge achievement and will be of enormous direct benefit to local communities in the County. Times have changed and my colleagues in Fingal County Council will have to work harder in the coming year to continue providing services to the same high standard on reducing budgets. The increasing efficiency and important savings made by the County Manager and his staff over the past 2 years have gone a long way to minimise the impact of reduced income to the Council. The Council will continue to make savings and look at new ways of providing its services to make sure that any future negative impact on services is kept to a minimum. It certainly would be my intention to protect those most vulnerable in our society.
I do not underestimate the challenge of delivering services with greatly reduced resources both financial and in personnel. I am looking forward to working with the Elected Members, the Manager and Staff to continue serving the people of Fingal.
Tá an-áthas orm a bheith toghta mar a mheara ar Comhairle Chiontae Fhine Gall. Deanfaidh me mo dícheall mo dualgaisí a chomlionadh agus obair go treanar son pobal an Chontae.
I am proud and excited to be Mayor of Fingal for the coming year and look forward to the year ahead.
Cllr 
