Mairead Farrell

a temporary train station coming into effect, what will that mean for the long term for the people that are living in that area?

But what I really think, to be honest, Clare, is like we know so many areas lack the basic infrastructure to be able to really have the place operating.

And the government had a critical infrastructure bill where they refused to actually define what critical infrastructure is.

So is it now that critical infrastructure depends on what events will be taking place in that area or is it actually based on the need?

Well, of course, of course we should be putting our best foot forward when it comes to the Ryder Cup.

When it comes to anything on an international stage, of course we should.

And people will obviously, the first thing people will say is, well, they should have an economic kickback.

And what I would say there is that the likes of Connemara, that doesn't have the basic infrastructure that is needed.

And I mean the very, very basic infrastructure in terms of good quality roads, in terms of

having, you know, an electricity system that works on a continuous basis that isn't, you know, when a gust of wind comes, is stopped or having the sewerage system in order to be able to build homes

and indeed to entice businesses.

You know, having basic infrastructure in place should also have an economic kickback.

It not only does it create jobs in terms of actually building that critical infrastructure, but it is also there to be able to allow people to live in a place, allow people to work in a place.

And I think that's what's been missing from government is that they don't see that.

They don't look at that basic infrastructure.

The other point I would make again, being from Galway, I remember Galway 2020 and I remember, you know, the hoo-ha in relation to that.

Now, there was lots of obstacles, Covid, etc.

But I remember saying from the beginning when we were talking about the bid for Galway 2020, that we need to have permanent infrastructure.

Yes, for the Galway City of Culture, that we need to have permanent infrastructure that comes out of the back of that.

We hadn't seen any permanent infrastructure coming out of the back