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Galway-based Independent Councillor Gabe Cronnelly has issued the following statement on the election of Micheál Martin as Taoiseach of Ireland.

"Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have now joined together and settled their civil war differences. Local Deputies for Galway East, Ciaran Cannon and Anne Rabbitte, today voted TÁ to Micheál Martin becoming our next Taoiseach. We have a Programme for Government that should now become part of official government policy. While the programme document contains many positive aspirations, there are still some significant gaps that it does not sufficiently cover such as poverty alleviation, housing, Sláintecare, and of course the Occupied Territories Bill.

We need to be ambitious. We need to be brave. We need to show leadership moving into the future, but I despair as to what will happen under a Fine Gael / Fianna Fáil / Green administration as those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it. Rural Ireland, now more than ever, needs real rural representation at a national level. As an Independent rural councillor, I will use whatever influence, soapbox, or medium afforded to me, to stand up for the people of Galway East that seek real and meaningful change in their political system. That means holding Deputies Cannon and Rabbitte to account for the votes they cast, the policies they advocate, and the changes they bring to the people of Galway East.

It’s time to put people before politics."

ENDS

Independent Councillor Gabe Cronnelly has been elected as Cathaoirleach of Athenry-Oranmore municipal district. Cronnelly, a native of Athenry, has expressed his gratitude and honour at being elected.

"During my time as Deputy Mayor of County Galway, I've been privileged to meet so many people from across Galway and further afield in my capacity Deputy Mayor. I've at all times tried to lead by example and demonstrate my ability to represent my county. As a rurally based and disabled Independent Councillor, I will continue to push for better services and amenities for those most marginalised in our society, but also fighting for increased funding for the Athenry-Oranmore municipality, proper and affordable housing provisions, and advocating for small local businesses, the linchpin of our towns and villages".

The Independent councillor was proposed by Fine Gael Councillor Liam Carroll and seconded by the incoming Leas-Cathaoirleach and Fine Gael Councillor David Collins. Cronnelly replaces outgoing Cathaoirleach and fellow Independent Jim Cuddy.

ENDS

Independent Councillor Gabe Cronnelly is calling on the current caretaker government to immediately inject additional funds into small local businesses as they seek to re-open under strict new regulations as a result of COVID-19.

The rurally-based Galway councillor for Athenry-Oranmore, Cronnelly stated “the newly established COVID-19 Restart Grant is a welcome initiative by the government to help support small local businesses kick start their online presence in the world of e-commerce, however, for many and most locally owned businesses, in store customer service is essential. Examples of this include hair salons, butchers, and locally operated shops where e-commerce is of limited benefit”.

Furthermore, Cronnelly continued “I have had many small businesses around Athenry reach out to me asking that I raise this issue as at present, it’s simply not viable for them to re-open their doors under such draconian restrictions without additional support coming from central government. Take a hair salon, for example, the cost of providing face masks to all employees, disposable towels for each hair wash, hand sanitizer at each station for employees and customers per day, and building in protective screens to separate customers at each station. These are all costs that have to be met before the doors are even re-opened. The only solution is to try and offset some of these costs by increasing prices which is something no one wants to see as we’re going through an unprecedented time where many people have lost their jobs and are relying on the 350 EUR weekly COVID payment, which I may add, is something the government must continue until such a time when we see a measurable shift in the unemployment figures. For anyone to suggest otherwise, illustrates a complete lack of empathy and understanding of the hardship people are currently facing.

Small businesses currently make up roughly 60% of overall revenue for the country which is why the government must act on this as small industry is the linchpin that not only keeps rural Ireland alive, but the entire nation”.

ENDS

For many of us in the disability community, we feel as if our ability to contribute to society is ignored and our existence marginalised by those in power, writes disability activist, Independent Councillor, and Deputy Mayor of County Galway, Gabe Cronnelly.

According to the 2016 Census, there were over 643,000 people living in Ireland with a disability. That means 13.5 per cent, or 1 in 7 people in Ireland with a disability. Data from 2015 told us that 132,000 people with disabilities were living in consistent poverty. I can only imagine what that figure is now. For too long successive governments have failed to adequately fund resources that assist and support people with disabilities to live a life of decency, respect, and independence.

As a married father with three teenage boys, I know the hardships that come with raising a family while being disabled. For 38 years I lived the life of an able-bodied person. For the last 10 years, I have been living the life of a disabled person. Those last 10 years changed my life dramatically from a physical, emotional, and financial perspective. I wasn’t able to work in the job I had prior to my accident because of the physicality involved. Emotionally, I was having (and still do occasionally) persistent nightmares about that fatal accident that left me in a pool of my own blood, bleeding out, thinking I would never get to kiss my wife and tell my children goodbye. The deafening sound of an accidental gun discharge that would result in 13 operations to save my life...the 14th to amputate. Weeks of rehabilitation ensued where I would learn to walk again, this time with a prosthetic. Session after session of counselling to help me deal with all the after effects of the accident. And then one day, that was it. Mounting financial pressures such as school bills, mortgage payments, heating, electricity, the list goes on... I found myself in a place of deep despair and emotional solitude.

Thanks to my loving wife, wonderful children, and my local community, I found purpose again. Since becoming a local councillor and Deputy Mayor of County Galway, I have been privileged to hear the stories and meet so many members of the disability community that share my journey, but also concerns. These concerns relate to resources and supports that enable them to live like any other able-bodied person, to be meaningful contributors to society, and realise their potential like everyone else.

For far too long successive governments have failed to adequately resource our disability sector, to prioritise disabled people in the same way bankers and bondholders were prioritised during the 2008 Financial Crisis, and to elevate the voices of our grassroots disability activists who exist right across our country. The lack of visible representation in national politics is a reflection of the marginalisation people with disabilities face every day.

From Inclusion Ireland to Social Justice Ireland, Budget 2020 failed to significantly improve the lives of our most vulnerable. Budget 2020, however, is only the latest budget in a long line of government budgets to have fallen dramatically below acceptable terms for those of us in the disability community. The invisibility of our pain and frustrations is only further compounded by the lack of meaningful action at a national level to ensure those of us on the fringes of society have the tools, resources, trainings, and supports to realise our potential.

Looking at the Framework Document recently released by Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, whilst recognising that Document is more aspirational and seeks to invite additional voices to further conversation surrounding a Programme for Government, it must be pointed out that there are still some considerable gaps:

1. People with disabilities are 4 times more likely to be unemployed than their able-bodied counterparts. Additionally, 31% of working age people with a disability were at work compared to 71% of those without a disability. Therefore, it is vital that any further discussions involving a Programme for Government include hard numbers as to how the incoming government will prioritise those with disabilities and specific measures the incoming government will take in relation to getting more people with disabilities into the workplace.

2. Article 28 of the UNCRPD recognises the right of people with disabilities to have an adequate standard of living for themselves and their families. In Ireland,132,000 people with disabilities were living in consistent poverty in 2015. Five years on, it's paramount that the UNCRPD underpins every piece of legislation that directly affects those with disabilities. That means any action taken by the incoming government should not negatively affect people with disabilities (i.e. equality proofing budgets). Furthermore, any incoming government must explore and take action with a greater sense of urgency, immediate measures that can be taken to increase independent living for those with disabilities.

3. Rural connectivity is a stark reminder of the disparities between urban and rural areas. Not only that, but people with physical disabilities living in rural isolation face unique and extremely difficult challenges. The National Broadband Plan (NBP) has been a disaster since day 1 with a litany of issues making the rollout almost impossible. Since the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak with restrictions on social movement implemented, the marginalisation and social isolation of rural Ireland has become more stark. The current COVID-19 social and physical restrictions that able-bodied people are currently experiencing should also serve as a living example of what people with disabilities face each and every day. The incoming government must realise, accept, and make tangible efforts to combat these issues without delay.

My message and appeal to the incoming government, whomever that may be, is simple: People with disabilities have the ability to contribute to our communities. Encourage our participation in society. Acknowledge us. Support us. Count us in.

Gabe Cronnelly is a disability activist and Independent Councillor for the Athenry-Oranmore municipal district. He is also currently serving as Deputy Mayor of County Galway.

Councillor Gabe Cronnelly (Ind) has spoken out against a recent death threat that was mailed to him. Cronnelly stated "As someone who lives daily with a disability, I know better than anyone how politics is personal. From funding vital projects/initiatives that promote and further improve accessibility to speaking out as a voice for an ever marginalised group of people that don't seem to be heard by our government, I know politics is very personal. What I don't accept, however, is the notion that people think they can threaten elected representatives and their families and try to bully and make death threats against them. I'm a big boy, I can take almost anything you throw at me, but when you bring my family into it, now you're clearly overstepping the mark and let me make this clear: 'no one will ever bully or threaten me into doing anything'. No party. No person. I was elected by the people of my community to serve them; not narrow and likely vested self-interested individuals.

This is why I'm also seeking a nomination for Seanad Éireann after the next General Election. To show these bullies and cowards that local, hardworking, community activists can make a positive difference in society. That a disabled person who was on his death bed a mere 10 years ago, can serve their community and country with distinction. That one can provide hope to kids across our region and further abroad that regardless of their setbacks or disadvantages handed to them from above, can achieve anything they put their minds to. That there is a voice in our halls of power that is willing to put people before party politics. That there will be a voice for them in our Oireacthas. That's what this is all about, and no anonymous coward is going to stop me. I've survived much worse than this in the past and I'm not going to allow it to deter me from representing my community to the best of my ability as I have done since 2014."

Athenry-Oranmore Councillor Gabe Cronnelly has formally announced his intention to seek a nomination to Seanad Éireann after the next General Election. Councillor Cronnelly, aged 48, said that his mission is to elevate the voices of his community and to represent the increasingly marginalised voices in the West of Ireland. Specifically, Cronnelly has stated that he wants to bring his personal experiences all the way to Leinster House and stand as a grassroots Disability Advocate candidate from rural Ireland.

Cronnelly has stated that "my grá for disability rights has, in part, been borne out through personal tragedy". Cronnelly goes on to say that "ten years ago I suffered a life-changing accident. My friend, during the hunting season, had accidentally discharged his gun whilst I was standing beside him. I hit the ground and instantly knew it was serious. In the space of ten weeks, I had thirteen operations to save my right leg. The fourteenth operation was to amputate".

Cronnelly continues saying "I believe, as someone who spent 38 years as an able-bodied person and the last 10 years as a disabled person, I am uniquely placed to understand the full frustrations of daily challenges of disabled people. Walking on the footpath fearing of obstructions that lay ahead. Walking into a public building thinking where’s the nearest disability restroom or does this building have the necessary resources to ensure I can make it from Point A to Point B without relying on help. I strongly believe that the only person who can truly explain what it’s like to be disabled is someone that’s been through it".

As the current Deputy Mayor of County Galway, Cronnelly sees his position as an opportunity "to lead by example that shows everyone that people with disabilities can achieve anything they put their minds to". A father to three teenage boys, Gabe mentions that he tries "to remain as active as ever through my work with sports partnerships, working in the community to open up avenues for people with disabilities to engage in sports, being a strong advocate and member of Embrace (a survivors’ network for those who have suffered death and disability through farming related accidents), to devoting my time with local community groups such as the Athenry Men’s Shed, Galway Parkinson’s Association, and meeting regularly with leading members of the Travelling community to gain greater perspectives into the daily challenges facing their community."

The Independent Galway Councillor ends by saying "we need a voice in local and national politics personally affected by the challenges and every day effects of having a disability. As the current Deputy Mayor of Galway, I am trying to lead by example that shows everyone that people with disabilities can achieve anything they put their minds to". If successful, the Independent councillor goes on to state "I believe I can bring a new dimension to Seanad Éireann, providing unique personal perspectives on disability as a survivor, advocate, rural councillor, father of three teenagers, and being a local community leader".