Chinese 'world trade centre style hub' for Athlone?

[PaddyJoe]

When I read this today I wondered if it was an April Fool''s Day story that been republished to the RTE website. However, its still up there so there must be something to it.

The project Mr Cowen is trying to bring to Athlone is reported to be a world trade centre type hub for Chinese industry - a project that would be built on a 600-acre site just east of Athlone and with the potential to create up to 10,000 jobs over five years.

The project is in its infancy but this afternoon Westmeath County Council will debate a proposal to re-zone hundreds of acres of land in an area known as Creggan on the Dublin side of Athlone

The first blindingly obvious question is why in the name of god would the Chinese want factory units and apartments in Athlone?
The second is who owns the land bought for over €50m and what banks do they owe the money to?
Thirdly, is Cowen thinking Election Summer 2010?
http://www.rte.ie/business/2010/0621/china2.html

[Kid Ryder]

Ah, the FDI cargo cult of Oireland Inc. continues unabashed. Like some offshoot of the John Frum cult now worshipping Phil the Greek (Prince Philip to you royal @rse-lickers out there), the FDIers have shifted their worship from the West to the East. Maybe the Oireland Inc. hogs like the cut of the Chinese authoritarian jib, and their 'no-nonsense' industrial relations approach? Was this what Croke Park was clearing the way for? Who's next for FDI worship? North Korea? Indonesia? Burma??

John Frum - from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Prince Philip Movement - from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Derelict]

Yes, this is an old one, but it's still appropriate -

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3vEOSkk5AM"]YouTube- Brian Cowen Lost in Europe[/ame]

[PaddyJoe]

It gets stranger

It is understood the Chinese group has looked at a number of sites across Europe, and has yet to announce a final decision. It is thought the development would serve as a focal point for Chinese investment in Europe.

Longford-Westmeath Fianna Fáil TD Mary O’Rourke said she met three of the Chinese promoters about 18 months ago in her home.

“There were very elaborate plans all laid out on the floor. And, yes, that was the story they had; they wanted to make it a hub.”

Ms O’Rourke said the group met Minister of State Conor Lenihan in Dublin. The promoters told her the first 2,500 jobs would be Asian nationals.

She said she would like further information on the project.

“I would like, of course, to see it progress, but I would like hard facts as well. I don’t want any project to be one that would give hope without any fact behind it.”

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...273030638.html

[DCon]

It gets stranger

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...273030638.html

O'Rourke is on Newstalk now.

Saying the delegation approached her, and she met them in her living room. She put them in touch with her son (local councillor) who brought the issue to his cousin, Conor Lenihan. Jesus Wept

O'Rourke initially saw the proposal as curing the job woes down there, but the delegation had to explain to her that the employees would all be Chinese.

[C. Flower]

O'Rourke is on Newstalk now.

Saying the delegation approached her, and she met them in her living room. She put them in touch with her son (local councillor) who brought the issue to his cousin, Conor Lenihan. Jesus Wept

O'Rourke initially saw the proposal as curing the job woes down there, but the delegation had to explain to her that the employees would all be Chinese.

I heard this wonderful interview too. O'Rourke described the project as "nebulous". It came to her via a local Chinese businessman (restauranteur?)
who brought in some UK contacts. The idea is a Chinese wholesale / retail "outlet". No mention of industry at all. The contacts had "gone cold".


Last night's item on RTE which showed footage of Chinese industry and suggested this was about FDI was a scandal of misrepresentation and/or lazy reporting.

A rezoning scam and false hope to unemployed people. Unless they want to work in a Chinese factory for 180 dollars a month.

The idea that "all the jobs would be for Asians" is bizarre too. Ireland doesn't even allow Chinese restaurants to employ Chinese-only staff.

[Cassandra Syndrome]

Its a great idea. China is looking for naive and braindead western European leaders who would allow them to set up a massive hub so that they can sell their outsourcing facilities to the Western world and prevent travelers from having to make that long restrictive journey to China.

We would create 10,000 jobs here to set this up for them and then lose over 100,000 jobs from the services they provide for large companies to outsource to China.

No other European country would touch this with a bargepole, but our bunch of buffoons lapped it up. It looks good for the short term media, who too won't see the tragic irony.

[C. Flower]

Its a great idea. China is looking for naive and braindead western European leaders who would allow them to set up a massive hub so that they can sell their outsourcing facilities to the Western world and prevent travelers from having to make that long restrictive journey to China.

We would create 10,000 jobs here to set this up for them and then lose over 100,000 jobs from the services they provide for large companies to outsource to China.

No other European country would touch this with a bargepole, but our bunch of buffoons lapped it up. It looks good for the short term media, who too won't see the tragic irony.

Nothing so solid, Cassandra Syndrome. Mary O'Rourke made it clear that it was only a retail warehousing outlet with noodles that we are talking about.

Also, the contact had "gone dead". So it would be interesting to know who Conor Lenihan met and what they were actually proposing.
And how that turned into a major RTE TV item with pictures of massive industrial zones in China as an example of what could be expected ?

A think a complaint to RTE would be in order.

[Captain Con O'Sullivan]

This announcement on RTE smells more and more of dead fish every minute. What kind of retail outlet would provide 10,000 jobs?

I'm getting the smell of FF/RTE bullshyte.

[Captain Con O'Sullivan]

Sounds like some reporter at RTE has been made a right fool of by someone connected to FF.

Desperation stakes now?

[PaddyJoe]

Westmeath County councillors approved the rezoning Monday night so all going according to plan
Still waiting to hear who the land belongs to?

one thing was clear from the plan - the council plans to develop the area extensively so that it can compete not only a national level, but on an international one.
However, it appears the Athlone Main Drainage Scheme will need to be in place before any large scale development of the lands can take place. Yet, despite lacking such infrastructure the council is clearly optimistic that the area can become an international hub.

http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/n...-creggan-area/

[People Korps]

Westmeath County councillors approved the rezoning Monday night so all going according to plan
Still waiting to hear who the land belongs to?

http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/n...-creggan-area/

Do any of them need fresh organs on that council?

Top British transplant surgeons have accused China of harvesting the organs of thousands of executed prisoners every year to sell for transplants.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4921116.stm

[People Korps]

I predict it will be a major medical facility/ organ farm where breeding is encouraged and Falon Gong members will be welcomed. Why dont we outsource the Chinese prison population to a massive facility in Athlone?

[DCon]

Why dont we outsource the Chinese prison population to a massive facility in Athlone?

surely it would be better to outsource our serious criminals to Chinese jails.

I am assuming the re-offending rate would be a lot lower..

[People Korps]

surely it would be better to outsource our serious criminals to Chinese jails.

I am assuming the re-offending rate would be a lot lower..

Only if we want our prisoners livers

With 60-83.5% of our prisoners the Chinese would detect a negative equity issue quite quickly. They only want the virgin flesh of Falon Gung people, and healthy free range prisoners. A Drimnagh junkie's liver is hardly appealing to a Yank paying 70 k for the lease of life.