Wallace and Skibb campaigner throw their hats in election ring

THE battle for seats in both the European and local elections is hotting up with controversial TD Mick Wallace bidding for a Euro seat in Ireland South while an anti-plastics factory campaigner has added his name to the local elections list.

Save Our Skibbereen committee member Brendan McCormack has announced he will be running as an independent candidate in the local elections, with voting for both elections on May 24th. 

Mr McCormack said his decision to stand was influenced by Cork County Council’s granting of planning permission for a plastics factory at Poundlick in Skibbereen, despite the fact that it goes against its own 2014 Local Area Plan. The first-time candidate, a marketing and business consultant, claimed there was ‘no meaningful public participation in the decision to rezone the land at Poundlick, and no meaningful interrogation of RTP company’s planning application on behalf of the communities of Skibbereen and West Cork.’

Mr McCormack is of the opinion that ‘Cork County Council must be held to account’ and that a successful SOS candidate would ensure ‘sustainability and public participation are guaranteed.’

Two Social Democrat candidates, Evie Nevin, who is standing in the Skibbereen area, and Holly Cairns, standing in the Bantry electoral area, have also stated their opposition to the plan to build a plastics factory in Skibbereen.

Meanwhile, Mick Wallace said he came to his decision to run for a European Parliament seat in Ireland South, after spending last weekend mulling it over – on Cape Clear.