THE CHIEF executive of the Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company, Michael Hanahoe, has resigned his position.
His resignation follows the shelving of the Carlisle Pier development project, although he said yesterday the two events were not connected.
Mr Hanahoe informed the chairman of the harbour board of his decision to leave last Friday and, under the terms of his contract, will work out 12 months’ notice with the company.
Mr Hanahoe told The Irish Times he did not feel under any pressure to go and was not leaving because of any particular issue.
“I do not feel that I have been forced out or forced by any particular circumstances to walk away,” he said.
His move followed the decision by John Sisk Sons Ltd to pull out of the Carlisle Pier project. The ambitious plan to redevelop the 19th-century derelict pier was designed by Heneghan Peng in March 2004.
The architects were chosen following a high-profile public consultation process with four short-listed designs, including one by international architect Daniel Libeskind.
The approved plan included a landmark national marine life centre, a 127-bed hotel, 229 apartments, retail developments and a floating stage and was lauded as “architecture of great refinement, elegance and sophistication”.
It was expected that an application would be lodged for the development in late 2004 by a consortium including Sisk. However, the project encountered a series of difficulties at the pre-planning stage and has now been shelved.
No one from Sisk was available to comment yesterday.
Mr Hanahoe’s resignation also followed the rejection by his board of directors last week of a proposal he made to offer voluntary redundancy to some of the 17 harbour police officers working in Dún Laoghaire.
The plan included a proposal to eliminate night shifts for the harbour police.
Mr Hanahoe said he was very happy with his 11 years as chief executive with the State company, which was established in March 1997 under the Harbours Act 1996.
“I am not aggrieved with the board,” he said.
“I have had my ups and downs with directors. . . but I don’t feel under pressure to go. I hope I am leaving with the best wishes of the board.”
He said his contract ran out last year and he was offered a new contract of indefinite duration, but was not now taking it up.
Mr Hanahoe said there was no connection between the withdrawal of Sisk and his resignation. He said the Carlisle Pier design was “wonderful” and was produced by an innovative team of architects, but its withdrawal was on the cards for a while because of the state of the construction market. “The decline in the property market killed it dead,” he said.
“I don’t see it happening in the near future.”
The company was actively looking at alternative options for the site, but had nothing definite in mind at present, he said.
He said he could not comment on proposals for the harbour police, as the company was in discussion with the union involved.
He also said he hoped to reach a new agreement with Stena Line ferry company before his departure, to ensure that the service remained in Dún Laoghaire.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Friday, 2 May 2008
Dublin could learn lessons from London over mayor
OPINION: Ken or Boris? The mayor of London will be colourful. But would the same be true here? asks Eleanor Fitzsimons .
LONDONERS WILL wake up today knowing they have either "Red" Ken Livingstone or maybe Tory twit Boris Johnson or perhaps - hardly - Lib Dem Brian Paddick, dubbed "the gay policeman" as their mayor. Given the candidates and the colourful history of London mayoral elections to date, is it any wonder commentators are voicing fears that the whole process has lost its dignity and been hijacked by the cult of personality?
The race to be mayor has proved divisive ever since a seething Jeffrey Archer handed the Tory nomination to Stephen Norris in 2000 in the face of perjury charges. Labour Party rank-and-file backed former Greater London Council leader Livingstone, who ultimately polled three times better than Frank Dobson, the charismatically challenged safe pair of hands his Labour colleagues ultimately chose.
Tony Blair's engineering of various convoluted voting mechanisms, arising out of his desperation to deny Livingstone the job, led William Haig, then leader of the opposition, to quip at prime minister's questions: "Why not split the job in two, with Frank Dobson as your day mayor and Ken Livingstone as your nightmare?"
Livingstone, having failed to secure the nomination as Labour candidate, ran as an Independent, won convincingly and proved to be rather good. Even Blair, who had predicted Livingstone would be a disaster, relented and welcomed him back into the Labour fold in time for his re-election in 2004.
The directly elected mayoral model has long been a controversial element of British local government reform. Central government was initially enthusiastic, recognising that effective, high-profile and legitimate local leadership is essential to delivering high quality local public services.
Increased visibility appears to have engaged the electorate in the process. However, critics argue that local governance is all about teamwork and warn that too much power in one pair of hands may prove harmful. As the British political system gravitates ever closer to the US system of personality politics, they contend that ultimately personality cults like Blairism and Thatcherism are self-defeating as the individual at the centre grows increasingly messianic and out of touch.
With John Gormley proposing an elected mayor for Dublin by 2011, it is timely to review the success of the London experiment and consider what lessons it holds for our own capital. Gormley's Green Paper proposes that an elected mayor would exercise control over transport, planning, housing, waste, water provision and wastewater disposal.
These significant responsibilities are broadly similar to those of London's mayor. So what has been achieved there and has the larger than life incumbent overshadowed the whole experience?
Livingstone initiated some good schemes during his time in office, thereby easily retaining the chain in 2004. He is, perhaps, most closely associated with transport and the introduction of the highly controversial congestion charge. While this has reduced traffic, critics argue that, though lucrative for its private-sector operator, promised funding for public transport has not materialised.
In an Irish context, transport initiatives would be welcome but a Dublin mayor cannot hope to inherit an equivalently well-developed public transport infrastructure - at least the vast majority of Londoners had options, albeit ageing, to get them to and from the city.
Gormley is no doubt encouraged by Livingstone's environmentally friendly policies. He created the London Hydrogen Partnership and the London Energy Partnership in his first term and his "green light to clean power" strategy commits London to reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 20 per cent by 2010.
However, progress on waste and recycling has been slower than hoped. Livingstone has also embraced his city's multiculturalism, hosting a Jewish Hanukkah ceremony at City Hall, organising "Eid in the Square" in Trafalgar Square to mark the end of Ramadan and introducing an annual St Patrick's Day festival. He has long been a supporter of Rise: London United, the free anti-racism music festival to which he attributes, along with other anti-racist policies, a 35 per cent decrease in racist attacks.
However, the words "cronyism" and "corruption" are never far from the lips of detractors. He has hit the headlines in lurid fashion - likening an Evening Standard journalist to a Nazi camp guard, accusing Israel's prime minister Ariel Sharon of being a "war criminal" and referring to George Bush as "the greatest threat to life on this planet".
Livingstone has certainly stayed true to his rebellious roots and made the job his own. But would this be equally true of any future Dublin equivalent?
Eleanor Fitzsimons is a freelance writer. She lived in London from 1998 to 2001
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
LONDONERS WILL wake up today knowing they have either "Red" Ken Livingstone or maybe Tory twit Boris Johnson or perhaps - hardly - Lib Dem Brian Paddick, dubbed "the gay policeman" as their mayor. Given the candidates and the colourful history of London mayoral elections to date, is it any wonder commentators are voicing fears that the whole process has lost its dignity and been hijacked by the cult of personality?
The race to be mayor has proved divisive ever since a seething Jeffrey Archer handed the Tory nomination to Stephen Norris in 2000 in the face of perjury charges. Labour Party rank-and-file backed former Greater London Council leader Livingstone, who ultimately polled three times better than Frank Dobson, the charismatically challenged safe pair of hands his Labour colleagues ultimately chose.
Tony Blair's engineering of various convoluted voting mechanisms, arising out of his desperation to deny Livingstone the job, led William Haig, then leader of the opposition, to quip at prime minister's questions: "Why not split the job in two, with Frank Dobson as your day mayor and Ken Livingstone as your nightmare?"
Livingstone, having failed to secure the nomination as Labour candidate, ran as an Independent, won convincingly and proved to be rather good. Even Blair, who had predicted Livingstone would be a disaster, relented and welcomed him back into the Labour fold in time for his re-election in 2004.
The directly elected mayoral model has long been a controversial element of British local government reform. Central government was initially enthusiastic, recognising that effective, high-profile and legitimate local leadership is essential to delivering high quality local public services.
Increased visibility appears to have engaged the electorate in the process. However, critics argue that local governance is all about teamwork and warn that too much power in one pair of hands may prove harmful. As the British political system gravitates ever closer to the US system of personality politics, they contend that ultimately personality cults like Blairism and Thatcherism are self-defeating as the individual at the centre grows increasingly messianic and out of touch.
With John Gormley proposing an elected mayor for Dublin by 2011, it is timely to review the success of the London experiment and consider what lessons it holds for our own capital. Gormley's Green Paper proposes that an elected mayor would exercise control over transport, planning, housing, waste, water provision and wastewater disposal.
These significant responsibilities are broadly similar to those of London's mayor. So what has been achieved there and has the larger than life incumbent overshadowed the whole experience?
Livingstone initiated some good schemes during his time in office, thereby easily retaining the chain in 2004. He is, perhaps, most closely associated with transport and the introduction of the highly controversial congestion charge. While this has reduced traffic, critics argue that, though lucrative for its private-sector operator, promised funding for public transport has not materialised.
In an Irish context, transport initiatives would be welcome but a Dublin mayor cannot hope to inherit an equivalently well-developed public transport infrastructure - at least the vast majority of Londoners had options, albeit ageing, to get them to and from the city.
Gormley is no doubt encouraged by Livingstone's environmentally friendly policies. He created the London Hydrogen Partnership and the London Energy Partnership in his first term and his "green light to clean power" strategy commits London to reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 20 per cent by 2010.
However, progress on waste and recycling has been slower than hoped. Livingstone has also embraced his city's multiculturalism, hosting a Jewish Hanukkah ceremony at City Hall, organising "Eid in the Square" in Trafalgar Square to mark the end of Ramadan and introducing an annual St Patrick's Day festival. He has long been a supporter of Rise: London United, the free anti-racism music festival to which he attributes, along with other anti-racist policies, a 35 per cent decrease in racist attacks.
However, the words "cronyism" and "corruption" are never far from the lips of detractors. He has hit the headlines in lurid fashion - likening an Evening Standard journalist to a Nazi camp guard, accusing Israel's prime minister Ariel Sharon of being a "war criminal" and referring to George Bush as "the greatest threat to life on this planet".
Livingstone has certainly stayed true to his rebellious roots and made the job his own. But would this be equally true of any future Dublin equivalent?
Eleanor Fitzsimons is a freelance writer. She lived in London from 1998 to 2001
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Private club not allowed to keep public away
AN "ELITE" club due to open on St Stephen's Green at the end of the month has been granted a public house licence - but with conditions attached.
The club - Residence, owned by restaurateurs Simon and Christian Stokes - will operate a VIP system for members.
However, under the terms of its licence granted yesterday by the Dublin Circuit Court, the club will not be allowed to refuse entry to the general public on grounds of non-membership.
Dorothy Collins, counsel for the Stokes brothers, told Judge Matthew Deery that it was their intention to operate a system that would allow members priority restaurant bookings, entrance to the downstairs bar area and the use of meeting rooms.
Ms Collins said Residence, which opens at the end of May, was seeking an order which would guarantee it a full public house licence if all development and planning permission and Garda and fire regulations were met. Judge Deery granted the order.
Annual membership of the new club, in a listed ivy-fronted building on St Stephen's Green, will cost €1,600 with a joining fee of €250. Members will use digital fingerprint ID to gain entry.
After the hearing, Simon Stokes said he was delighted with the ruling. He said they had always been aware that it was not possible to have a seven-day licence without allowing access to the public.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
The club - Residence, owned by restaurateurs Simon and Christian Stokes - will operate a VIP system for members.
However, under the terms of its licence granted yesterday by the Dublin Circuit Court, the club will not be allowed to refuse entry to the general public on grounds of non-membership.
Dorothy Collins, counsel for the Stokes brothers, told Judge Matthew Deery that it was their intention to operate a system that would allow members priority restaurant bookings, entrance to the downstairs bar area and the use of meeting rooms.
Ms Collins said Residence, which opens at the end of May, was seeking an order which would guarantee it a full public house licence if all development and planning permission and Garda and fire regulations were met. Judge Deery granted the order.
Annual membership of the new club, in a listed ivy-fronted building on St Stephen's Green, will cost €1,600 with a joining fee of €250. Members will use digital fingerprint ID to gain entry.
After the hearing, Simon Stokes said he was delighted with the ruling. He said they had always been aware that it was not possible to have a seven-day licence without allowing access to the public.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
FF-Greens deal 'must not affect' incinerator decision
DUBLIN CITY Council has warned the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that any agreements between Fianna Fáil and the Green Party in relation to waste management must not affect the decision to grant a licence to the Poolbeg incinerator.
Agreements between the parties in the programme for government, or the outcome of the current review of waste management policy conducted by Minister for the Environment John Gormley, were not relevant to the EPA's consideration of the licence application, Bill Shipsey senior counsel for the local authority, said.
Mr Shipsey was making the council's closing submission yesterday on the final day of the EPA hearing on the proposal to grant a licence for the incinerator which will burn 600,000 tonnes of waste annually. It is seeking a licence to run the incinerator, having last year been granted planning permission by An Bord Pleanála.
Mr Gormley had, before his appointment as Minister, objected to the incinerator but is now debarred from involvement in the licensing process.
However, he is reviewing waste policy and has said he favours mechanical biological treatment, which breaks down waste, to reduce the need for incineration.
The EPA must have regard to current waste policy which favours incineration, Mr Shipsey said, and not to any future policy. "The future predictions of what might happen in relation to waste policy are irrelevant to the authority's considerations of a licence." No "credible scientific or other evidence" had been presented not to grant the licence, he added.
The hearing concluded yesterday, despite a request for an adjournment by one of the appellants, Joe McCarthy, to consider new material put forward by the council in relation to air quality.
Mr McCarthy was last week granted an adjournment to consider a new report by the council's expert on air quality and emissions, Dr Edward Porter. Mr McCarthy said the air quality was poor and in breach of environmental standards. Mr Porter said air quality was improving and would be significantly better by the time the incinerator opened in 2012.
Hearing chairwoman Maire O'Connor will consider the evidence presented and make a recommendation to the EPA.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Agreements between the parties in the programme for government, or the outcome of the current review of waste management policy conducted by Minister for the Environment John Gormley, were not relevant to the EPA's consideration of the licence application, Bill Shipsey senior counsel for the local authority, said.
Mr Shipsey was making the council's closing submission yesterday on the final day of the EPA hearing on the proposal to grant a licence for the incinerator which will burn 600,000 tonnes of waste annually. It is seeking a licence to run the incinerator, having last year been granted planning permission by An Bord Pleanála.
Mr Gormley had, before his appointment as Minister, objected to the incinerator but is now debarred from involvement in the licensing process.
However, he is reviewing waste policy and has said he favours mechanical biological treatment, which breaks down waste, to reduce the need for incineration.
The EPA must have regard to current waste policy which favours incineration, Mr Shipsey said, and not to any future policy. "The future predictions of what might happen in relation to waste policy are irrelevant to the authority's considerations of a licence." No "credible scientific or other evidence" had been presented not to grant the licence, he added.
The hearing concluded yesterday, despite a request for an adjournment by one of the appellants, Joe McCarthy, to consider new material put forward by the council in relation to air quality.
Mr McCarthy was last week granted an adjournment to consider a new report by the council's expert on air quality and emissions, Dr Edward Porter. Mr McCarthy said the air quality was poor and in breach of environmental standards. Mr Porter said air quality was improving and would be significantly better by the time the incinerator opened in 2012.
Hearing chairwoman Maire O'Connor will consider the evidence presented and make a recommendation to the EPA.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Gormley opens Ballymun conference
A conference focusing on environmental initiatives undertaken by the Ballymun regeneration project was opened by Minister for the Environment John Gormley this afternoon.
The Greener Ballymun conference is part of the celebrations to mark the 10th Anniversary of the regeneration project.
So far over 1,300 families have moved from the flats and are living in new homes and over 1000 new private, affordable, voluntary and co-op homes have been constructed. A further 700 units are under construction and 900 have received planning permission.
By the end of the regeneration project it is expected that 6000 new homes will have been constructed in Ballymun.
“Now that the physical infrastructure is well under way the regeneration programme is concentrating on making Ballymun a successful town with employment opportunities, strong communities and a better environment for everyone,” said Ciarán Murray, managing director, Ballymun Regeneration.
“Today’s conference showcases some of the exciting environmental projects taking place in Ballymun which are contributing towards building a vibrant urban community,” he added.
Several presentations on environmental initiatives implemented as part of the regeneration project are to be highlighted at today’s conference including a furniture recovery and paints recycling programme.
Ballymun is also the first area in Ireland to publish a sub regional biodiversity action plan, which will act as a guide to householders and developers for the enhancement of biodiversity at local level.
Speaking this afternoon, Minister Gormley congratulated Ballymun Regeneration on the new initiative and also spoke about the significant achievements which have been made since the publication of the masterplan for the new Ballymun in March 1998
“It is worth noting that prior to the regeneration programme, 90 per cent of the traffic on the Main Street was passing through. Ten years on, Ballymun is moving from being a “through route” to a destination in its own right.
The achievements to date provide the basis for ensuring that the residents and businesses in the area can grasp the opportunities denied to previous generations, yielding a strong, vibrant and, ultimately, sustainable Ballymun for the 21st century” he said.
Ireland.com
www.buckplanning.ie
The Greener Ballymun conference is part of the celebrations to mark the 10th Anniversary of the regeneration project.
So far over 1,300 families have moved from the flats and are living in new homes and over 1000 new private, affordable, voluntary and co-op homes have been constructed. A further 700 units are under construction and 900 have received planning permission.
By the end of the regeneration project it is expected that 6000 new homes will have been constructed in Ballymun.
“Now that the physical infrastructure is well under way the regeneration programme is concentrating on making Ballymun a successful town with employment opportunities, strong communities and a better environment for everyone,” said Ciarán Murray, managing director, Ballymun Regeneration.
“Today’s conference showcases some of the exciting environmental projects taking place in Ballymun which are contributing towards building a vibrant urban community,” he added.
Several presentations on environmental initiatives implemented as part of the regeneration project are to be highlighted at today’s conference including a furniture recovery and paints recycling programme.
Ballymun is also the first area in Ireland to publish a sub regional biodiversity action plan, which will act as a guide to householders and developers for the enhancement of biodiversity at local level.
Speaking this afternoon, Minister Gormley congratulated Ballymun Regeneration on the new initiative and also spoke about the significant achievements which have been made since the publication of the masterplan for the new Ballymun in March 1998
“It is worth noting that prior to the regeneration programme, 90 per cent of the traffic on the Main Street was passing through. Ten years on, Ballymun is moving from being a “through route” to a destination in its own right.
The achievements to date provide the basis for ensuring that the residents and businesses in the area can grasp the opportunities denied to previous generations, yielding a strong, vibrant and, ultimately, sustainable Ballymun for the 21st century” he said.
Ireland.com
www.buckplanning.ie
€80m Ballina retail project a step closer
BALLINA is one step closer to clinching an €80 million town centre retail complex development.
The local town council will be asked to consider disposing of the Humbert St car park beside Dunnes Stores at its monthly meeting this Thursday night, April 24.
The local authority is understood to have received an offer in excess of €9 million for the town centre property from developers Harold and Peter Conway.
The Conway brothers approached Ballina Town Council in January of this year with an ambitious €80 million proposal to construct a shopping complex at the Humbert St site.
The project, which would be subject to planning, would create approximately 300 jobs during construction phase with a further 700 retail positions once the shopping centre is completed.
The proposed centre would incorporate three national or international anchor tenants, one of which would be Dunnes Stores. The anticipated development plans would also provide for underground parking for 500 vehicles.
The disposal of the Humbert St site, if approved by town council members, would be subject to conditions - including the requirement that the purchasers submit a planning application for it within six months
Orla Hearns
Western People
www.buckplanning.ie
The local town council will be asked to consider disposing of the Humbert St car park beside Dunnes Stores at its monthly meeting this Thursday night, April 24.
The local authority is understood to have received an offer in excess of €9 million for the town centre property from developers Harold and Peter Conway.
The Conway brothers approached Ballina Town Council in January of this year with an ambitious €80 million proposal to construct a shopping complex at the Humbert St site.
The project, which would be subject to planning, would create approximately 300 jobs during construction phase with a further 700 retail positions once the shopping centre is completed.
The proposed centre would incorporate three national or international anchor tenants, one of which would be Dunnes Stores. The anticipated development plans would also provide for underground parking for 500 vehicles.
The disposal of the Humbert St site, if approved by town council members, would be subject to conditions - including the requirement that the purchasers submit a planning application for it within six months
Orla Hearns
Western People
www.buckplanning.ie
Jackie Healy-Rae's pals
THE RECENT list of disclosed donations to TDs last year revealed the legendary Jackie Healy-Rae to be an even shrewder operator than previously thought, with his €24,900 eclipsing the modest €3,500 he received in 2002 (he did not receive any in 1997). Fans of Goldhawk might recognise two of his benefactors from some unfortunate planning rows in the Kingdom - where the Healy-Rae clan was to the fore.
Early last year, Jackie's sons Danny and Michael Healy-Rae (both members of Kerry County Council) attempted to rezone land owned by Killarney businessman Dermot Healy. Healy, it will be recalled (see The Phoenix, 9/2/2007), had been running a car dealership since 1992 without proper planning permission and was facing enforcement proceedings from Kerry County Council, although this did not stop Danny Healy-Rae proposing Healy's rezoning plan in the council chamber (which Michael Healy-Rae seconded). Enforcement proceedings have since been adjourned while Healy's application for retention goes through the planning process.
Healy contributed €1,000 to Jackie Healy-Rae last year. Another generous pal of Jackie's is Con Duggan, a wellknown Killarney operator and nephew of Goldhawk's old pal Noel C Duggan, who also gave the TD €1,000 last year. In 2007, the Duggan family proposed to put a warehouse right beside the 5-star Aghadoe Heights hotel, overlooking Killarney's famous lakes. Michael Healy-Rae seconded this "imaginative proposal" in the council chamber, while his brother Danny also rowed in behind the Duggans' "unique" plan. This initially won the support of the majority of the councillors but not that of most Killarney folk. Such was the outcry to the proposal that the councillors eventually backed down and tossed it out. Bizarrely, a short time later, a circus rolled into town and set up camp in front of the posh Aghadoe Heights, much to the horror of the local tourist chiefs. This was orchestrated by none other than Con Duggan (see The Phoenix, 20/4/2007).
Another proposal saw the Healy-Rae brothers attempt to rezone 16 acres of the Duggans' land to residential, despite the site being in a rural area several miles outside Killarney. The County Manager recommended against the rezoning, as such an "isolated housing (development) in a rural area would be inappropriate." Danny Healy-Rae, however, seconded the proposal on the grounds that the Duggans would provide social and affordable housing. The Duggans and Healy-Raes were surely delighted when this got the thumbs-up from the majority of the members, although the proposal didn't go down well when the plan went out on public display, even attracting a scathing editorial from The Irish Times. When the final vote was held in April 2007, the members had mysteriously changed their minds again and unanimously agreed to toss it out of the plan.
The Pheonix
www.buckplanning.ie
Early last year, Jackie's sons Danny and Michael Healy-Rae (both members of Kerry County Council) attempted to rezone land owned by Killarney businessman Dermot Healy. Healy, it will be recalled (see The Phoenix, 9/2/2007), had been running a car dealership since 1992 without proper planning permission and was facing enforcement proceedings from Kerry County Council, although this did not stop Danny Healy-Rae proposing Healy's rezoning plan in the council chamber (which Michael Healy-Rae seconded). Enforcement proceedings have since been adjourned while Healy's application for retention goes through the planning process.
Healy contributed €1,000 to Jackie Healy-Rae last year. Another generous pal of Jackie's is Con Duggan, a wellknown Killarney operator and nephew of Goldhawk's old pal Noel C Duggan, who also gave the TD €1,000 last year. In 2007, the Duggan family proposed to put a warehouse right beside the 5-star Aghadoe Heights hotel, overlooking Killarney's famous lakes. Michael Healy-Rae seconded this "imaginative proposal" in the council chamber, while his brother Danny also rowed in behind the Duggans' "unique" plan. This initially won the support of the majority of the councillors but not that of most Killarney folk. Such was the outcry to the proposal that the councillors eventually backed down and tossed it out. Bizarrely, a short time later, a circus rolled into town and set up camp in front of the posh Aghadoe Heights, much to the horror of the local tourist chiefs. This was orchestrated by none other than Con Duggan (see The Phoenix, 20/4/2007).
Another proposal saw the Healy-Rae brothers attempt to rezone 16 acres of the Duggans' land to residential, despite the site being in a rural area several miles outside Killarney. The County Manager recommended against the rezoning, as such an "isolated housing (development) in a rural area would be inappropriate." Danny Healy-Rae, however, seconded the proposal on the grounds that the Duggans would provide social and affordable housing. The Duggans and Healy-Raes were surely delighted when this got the thumbs-up from the majority of the members, although the proposal didn't go down well when the plan went out on public display, even attracting a scathing editorial from The Irish Times. When the final vote was held in April 2007, the members had mysteriously changed their minds again and unanimously agreed to toss it out of the plan.
The Pheonix
www.buckplanning.ie
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)