Fianna Fail and the Greens in Galway, who have been enduring an extensive campaign of hundreds of people phoning and texting them on the health cuts issue, can lay some of the blame on Labour in Galway East for the fact that the summer has not been the usual political ‘silly season.’

Labour activists, led by people like Councillor Colm Keaveney – the trade union official who is part of the Labour ticket for an East Galway challenge to FF – and threatened health workers and their families, have been ringing the FF and Green politicians to show the extent of opposition to cuts.

So, though you may not get an official confirmation from any of the political parties, can I tell you this week that the phones of FF’s Eamon O Cuiv, Frank Fahey (Galway West), Noel Treacy and Micheal Kitt (Galway East) and Green Senator Niall O Brolchain (Galway West) have been ringing on a very persistent basis in the past week.

The main reason is that with proposed health cuts running to tens of millions in the west, and with hundreds of health worker jobs on the line, Labour has decided to take the battle to the government parties right through August – the time when, traditionally, people like Taoiseach Brian Cowen head to Ballyconneely for a golf holiday, and others regard August as ‘the silly season.’

In fact, Labour in Galway East has been part of setting the political agenda on the health cut question in recent weeks – with talk of cuts ranging from €50million to €90million and angry protests in Roscommon, Ballinasloe and Galway against cuts which will impact seriously on services.

It all marks a very active Labour Party in western constituencies ..... for it isn’t just Fianna Fail who will be ‘coming west’ in the early part of September, the Labour Party has plans for two sessions in September-October which are geared at trying to build on what they say is the growing Labour support in western constituencies showing in opinion polling.

Fianna Fail will be holding a two-day Parliamentary Party meeting in the Ardilaun House Hotel in Galway on September 11-12, but now has come word that Labour will be holding a think-in seminar in Roscommon the same week, and Labour will also hold a major policy launch in October in Castlebar, dealing with issues like the need for investment in the west.

For more, read this week's Connacht Tribune.