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Protestors force meeting with minister over weir

Feburary 26th 2009

ENVIRONMENT Minister John Gormley has pledged to meet with his cabinet colleague, Communications Minister Eamonn Ryan, in a bid to reach a compromise over plans for the weir in Fermoy.

Minister Gormley was in Fermoy last Friday to officially launch a new book detailing the architectural heritage of the north Cork region.

However, his visit was somewhat overshadowed by the issue of the weir - with locals leaving him in little doubt about their feelings on the subject.

Prior to his arrival in Fermoy, up to 200 protestors had brought traffic to a standstill as they marched through the town, voicing their opposition to controversial plans to lower the weir.

Town mayor Cllr Tadgh O'Donovan said he believed that the march was indicative of the outrage felt locally at plans to alter the weir.

"I believe this will send out a clear message that people power can be the deciding factor in this whole issue. We will not lie back and let this measure be imposed on us as a community," he said.

A deputation from Fermoy Rowing Club had hoped to meet with the minister on Friday to take him to the weir to see at first hand what the controversy was about.

However, Minister Gormley declined the invitation, saying that he simply did not have the time to do so on this occasion. Following the intervention of local Green Party town council candidate Adam Douglas, Minister Gormley did subsequently agree to hold a private meeting with members of the rowing club to discuss their concerns. Afterwards the minister described the meeting as "progressive".

"There was a good exchange of views. They wanted me to walk down by the river but, unfortunately, I do not have time. Adam has fully briefed me on the issue and I will do so the next time I am down," said the minister.

"I will be talking to Minister Ryan about the issue to see if there are compromises available. The whole idea is that you don't bludgeon people; you try to be sensible about these things and reach a compromise. At this stage I think it is important we see the independent study before we can make any further progress," he added.

Rowing club spokesman Donal O'Keeffe said they were delighted to have the opportunity to meet the minister. "The minister gave a solid commitment that he would come to Fermoy again in the very near future to walk the bank, see what is at stake and see what we are so worked up about," said Mr O'Keeffe.

"We were very happy with the way things went, particularly Minister Gormley's commitment to meet with Eamon Ryan to discuss the whole issue. However, nothing has been decided yet so we will have to remain somewhat cautious," he added.

- BILL BROWNE (The Corkman)

Minister agrees to weir meeting

Feburary 26th 2009

Fermoy Rowing Club say they are happy but remain cautious following a meeting with Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government John Gormley on proposals to alter the town’s weir.

The Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources have proposed altering the weir and installing a rock-ramp fish pass to facilitate the passage of salmon upriver.

The Department is headed up by Minister Gormley’s party colleague Minister Eamon Ryan, however, Fermoy Rowing Club are concerned that the proposals will lower the level of the River Blackwater to the point of rendering their sport obsolete. Fermoy Town Council has commissioned an independent study to find an alternative proposal that will satisfy all concerns.

Despite fears that the minister would not discuss the issue with the rowing club during his visit to Fermoy last Friday a brief meeting, brokered by local Green Party representative Adam Douglas, took place in the Town Hall following a protest in which over 100 people voiced their opposition to the proposals.

The meeting between the minister, Green Party Senator Dan Boyle, local representatives and members of the rowing club was held behind closed doors but all concerned voiced their satisfaction with proceedings after the summit.

Minister Gormley said that he would visit Fermoy in the near future to look at the weir first hand and added that he would meet with Minister Eamon Ryan to discuss the issue.

“Adam Douglas has done an awful lot of work on this, he has done out a very good briefing for me in advance of this meeting,” Minister Gormley said, “The independent study is absolutely vital and I think if we can get that we should be able to make progress.”

“I felt it was very productive, Minister Gormley was very receptive of what we had to say,” Fermoy Rowing Club secretary Donal O’Keeffe told reporters. “We’re very happy with the way things went. The minister gave, as he put it, a solemn commitment that he would come to Fermoy again in the very near future. He’ll come to Fermoy Rowing Club, walk the bank, see what’s at stake, see what we’re so worked up about, call down to the club and meet the members of the club,” he added.

Adam Douglas, the Green Party candidate for Fermoy Town Council, said that he was delighted that Minister Gormley took the opportunity to meet with the rowing club and welcomed the minister’s commitment to finding a solution following his briefing on the situation.

“Minister Gormley listened to what was said, the rowers offered their opinions in a good atmosphere and I felt it was productive,” Mr Douglas said. Mr Douglas’ role in securing the ‘progressive’ meeting was praised by both parties.

“Adam has been a good friend to the Rowing club, he really has. We’re delighted with all that Adam has done, he couldn’t have done any more,” Mr O’Keeffe said. Amongst the details to be discussed between Ministers Gormley and Ryan is the discovery by MEP Kathy Sinnott that there is no explicit threat of E.U. sanctions if the fish pass is not installed.

“This agenda has been pushed forward on the line that there is a fine waiting to happen, that the EU are going to fine Ireland if salmon can’t pass that weir,” Mr O’Keeffe explained. A letter from the rowing club to Minister Gormley detailed Kathy Sinnott’s discovery, and added their belief that the Southern Regional Fisheries Board is pushing the agenda.

“The minister expressed his surprise at this and said that he would talk to his people in Europe,” Mr O’Keeffe said.

- JOE LEOGUE