Council challenged on “anti-social” height limits Posted by Cian Ginty Dublin City, Featured Updates, News Thursday, July
29th, 2010
Dublin City councillors were asked on Tuesday night if they intend to make
the city a mausoleum with “anti-socially” low building height limits.
Peak to Trough Fall in GNP
Ireland -16.5%
Euro Zone -5.3%
UK – 6.4%
US – 3.8%
Iceland – 12.9%
Irish GNP fell 0.5% in Q1 2010 (FF will tell you we are recovering now!)
We are still contracting!
GDP grew 2.7% in Q1 but that is multinational profits and does not reflect the indigenous economy.
IMF predicts that a reduced potential growth rate of 2.5% pa by 2015. This 2.5% is likely to be the expansion capacity into this decade.
Rovers lost 2-0 against Juventus at Tallaght in the Europa Competition having won 1-0 away against Bnei Yahuda, Tel Aviv last week. My sons were at both. I still pay into the 400 club to keep Rovers going. The determination of those involved in what is a members club has been a triumph of optimism. I was involved at the RDS years ago and it was a black hole into which money disappeared. Emotionally, it is great to see the name Shamrock Rovers playing in Europe again. John McNamara and myself tried unsuccessfully to buy Glenmalure Park, Milltown for Rovers.
This team rattles through my brain – Pat Dunne, John Keogh, Pat Courtney, Ronnie Nolan, Tommy Farrell, Johnny Fullam, Frank O’Neill, Jackie Mooney, Eddie Bailham, Paddy Ambrose and Tony O’Connell
The other LEGEND is Pat Byrne – a real gentleman.
Jody Byrne, Harry Kenny, Jacko McDonagh/ Dermot Keeley, Mick Neville, Peter Eccles, Kevin Brady, Pat Byrne, Paul Doolan, Noel Larkin and Mick Byrne and John Coady/Liam O’Brien, Neville Steadman,
Great Times
Being Group Leader of Fine Gael on Dublin City Council is really a paddle in the Poddle. Unleash the talent around you when it is obviously there and watch the results soar. My respect for my colleagues talent informs my policy. Fine Gael in Dublin has TALENT. Lets stop hiding this fact.
There is a plethora of leadership talent in the Fine Gael ranks on Dublin City Council. There is Ruairi McGinley who is the epitome of steady calmness and financial competence. He is our Finance Minister. Mary O’Shea is the group co-ordinator and organiser and Minister for Information; Naoise O’Muiri is our Minister for Innovation and Industry. These Three are our Group Facilitators and Negotiators with other groups and city management. Eoghan Murphy is our detailed analyst for environmental issues and did a great job in deconstructing the Development Plan. Pat Crimmons is our representative on Local Authority Members Association and works in the common good of all councillors. We are very fortunate to have Edie Wynne, a true lady, as our Deputy Lord Mayor with the inimitable Gerry Breen as Lord Mayor. Then thought of those two brings a smile. Gerry showed his business efficiency by brilliantly chairing the Development Plan Meetings. Catherine Noone watches the Law Department and gives the rest of us advice. Mary O’Shea does that for me at the HSE Forum. Ray McAdam is a special lad. He leads us in any decision relating to the North Inner City where he works on issues with his fellow councillors. He is lucky to have Marie Metcalfe, Christy Burke and Niall Ring as luminaries. Declan Flanagan is our man for verbal battle when we need to call in the Marines. All I have to do is look around and Declan takes off the leash. Clair Byrne is on maternity leave at the moment and we respect that as Fine gael is proud that we have 33% women in our group. My role is to offer solutions to the group where problems seem intractable, to interact with the other representatives and with the city council staff and to pursue the rationalist, liberal, respectful and open agenda where everyone is respected and selflessness is put first. I am the conductor. My orchestra is high quality with leaders in every sector. We will not whip people against their consciences but regard dissent as either genuinely deeply held and that is ok or as a failure of communication within the group.
Picture is from the Taxi Discussion in depth on 'Coleman at Large' and and show Bill with John Keane of Capital Taxis and Vinny Kearns of Xpert Digi Taxis. Also on the show were Aiden Moore of the National Taxi Union, Peter O'Byrne Taxi driver and part time actor and comedian and Lisa Core of Capital Taxis.
There are about 16,000 taxis in Dublin now compared to about 2000 taxis in 2000 when the system was blown open to all-comers.
Currently, there are four representative bodies for taxis. The Taxi Regulator says that she has the job of implementing good quality standards in the industry. Goodbody’s provided reports on the Taxis in 2005 and again in 2008. They found that the income of taxi drivers was on average below the average industrial wage; that many worked >70 hours per week and that use of taxis by the public was paid for in their budget for social and recreational spending.
