Coghlan congratulates Spillane on new Commission Chairmanship

Speaking on the Order of Business in the Seanad today (Wednesday), Fine Gael Kerry senator and Seanad Government Chief Whip, Paul Coghlan, congratulated and warmly welcomed the appointment of Pat Spillane as the Chairman of the new Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas (CEDRA) which was announced this week by the Minister for the Environment, Phil Hogan TD.

“The idea to set up a new economic, rural commission which will allow the voices of the people who are most affected by Government decisions to be heard is a great one. Appointing Pat Spillane as the Chair is another.

“Pat has an abundance of energy, drive and commitment and I have no doubt that he will do a superb job and make a huge success of this new role. Generating a jobs strategy for rural Ireland is crucial at this stage of our recovery. Rural Ireland has really felt the impact of the high number job losses we have seen in recent years. Ensuring that the right policies are in place to aid recovery and to allow rural Ireland to develop, once again, to its full potential is essential.

“Minister Hogan is embarking on a radical reform agenda where local government and rural Ireland in particular is concerned. New strategies are being developed to drive economic development, with specific directors of services for economic development being put in place in many local authorities.

“The Commission will ensure that the people on the ground can contribute solutions to the problems they are meeting every day in terms of growth and development. This Commission will contribute significantly to rural economic development and I wish Pat every success in playing his part in this initiative.”