Former Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Simon Coveney, was in Drogheda this morning to launch the local election campaign of businesswoman Shona McManus.

Speaking at a packed meeting in The Marcy Hotel this morning, Ms McManus laid out her priority issues which she hopes to tackle if elected and, judging by the length of her list , she is going to be a very busy woman if her campaign is successful.

Ms McManus said that as a business person she is well used to being busy. She said that when she took over the company she runs, Osborne Recruitment, eleven years ago it was insolvent and employed just six people. Now it is a thriving business employing 90 staff.

She has also found time along the way to serve as President of Drogheda Chamber of Commerce, she is currentlky Co-Chair of the Mill Enterprise Hub and she is also a director of the Drogheda Port Company.

“With a proven track record for delivering in Drogheda, with in the community and in business, I will be a new strong voice driving positive change, representing our rapidly growing town to develop and to deliver a joined-up vision for Drogheda” she said.

Asked about her opinions on Drogheda achieving city status, Ms McManus said: “We definitely need leadership and management located here in the town, I would love to see City Status for Drogheda  - we should have it given our size. 

She told Drogheda Life that she is in favour of a local authority for Drogheda and East Meath but was not sure what form that would take but “...we definitely need something here that is ours, that’s based here and representing our people.”

“The current situation with part of the local area being run from Dundalk and the rest from Navan is disjointed” she said. “It is misaligned and doesn’t feel focussed. To get the right things done we need absolute focus in the right areas and this is just not the case at the moment.”

Asked about traffic management and in particular, the possibility of pedestrianising some of the of the town centre streets Ms McManus said: “there were pros and cons of course, but I think it needs to be looked at again. A lot of people think it would bring in a lot of extra trade but there are examples in other towns where it hasn’t worked.

“Equally though, there are examples of towns where it has worked. Perhaps we need to do an extra study for Drogheda but either way it needs to be decided once and for all.

“We need to get a study done, look at it with fresh eyes, see will it work for Drogheda, make a decision and move it on.

“We can’t be sitting on all these same issues for years and years, not doing anything, but everyone talking the same talk for 15 years or more.”

For more information see

 https://www.facebook.com/shona.mcmanus

@ShonaAnnMcManus