Ciaran Cuffe Newsletter Winter 07

Dún Laoghaire, Ballybrack, Blackrock, Booterstown, Cabinteely, Carrickmines, Clonkeen, Corke Abbey, Dalkey,

Deansgrange, Foxrock, Glasthule, Glenageary, Killiney, Kill O The Grange, Kilternan, Leopardstown, Loughlinstown, Mount Merrion Avenue, Monkstown, Mountown, Old Connacht, The Park, Rathmichael, Rathsallagh, Sallynoggin, Sandycove, Seapoint, Shankill.

Winter 2008

www.CiaranCuffe.com

Printed on unbleached, recycled paper

A message from Ciarán Cuffe

I would like to sincerely thank the people of Dún Laoghaire for their support during the election last year and for returning me to Dáil Éireann. I look forward to working hard to represent you in the 30th Dáil and to get Green Party policies implemented in Government. We made the decision back in June to go into Government because we felt that vital issues, such as Climate Change, could not wait for another five years. After being a member of the Green Party for 25 years this was one of my proudest days. I believe we emerged with a programme that will point Ireland in a greener direction over the next five years. It's not perfect and we didn't get everything we wanted, but with two senior Green Party ministers in positions at the heart our agenda, we are already seeing fresh thinking and innovative action on climate change, energy and environmental issues. I am particularly pleased we got an agreement on cutting our greenhouse gas emissions by 3% annually, directly elected mayors from 2011, and a commitment to proper planning - all key priorities of the Green Party prior to entering Government.

Web

www.CiaránCuffe.Com

Ciarán Cuffe TD during Government negotiations last Summer

The Cultivate Building - A good example of high energy and conservation standards.

Greener homes for Dún Laoghaire From 1st January, new homes in Dún Laoghaire must meet energy efficiency standards that are 40% higher than previous standards. They will lead to significant improvements in wall, roof and floor insulation. New houses will be cheaper to heat and will produce less climate change emissions. This was an initiative spearheaded by Green Party Councillors. In addition, one of Minister Gormley’s first acts in taking office was to extend these regulations nationwide. This will provide for a dramatic improvement in the energy efficiency for all new homes across Ireland. The new Building Regulations also provide for a mandatory minimum level of renewable energy sources in all new homes, such as solar heating or biomass systems (e.g. wood pellet). They will ensure that vendors provide easy-to-read information to buyers on the operation of the home’s heating and energy control systems. Boilers will have to perform to minimum efficiency standards. Air testing, to ensure homes are not leaking excessive heat, will also be required. We see these regulations as a large step in the right direction toward the aim of achieving zero carbon homes in the future. A review to improve the regulations further (to 60 per cent above current levels) will be carried out in 2010. Web

www.environ.ie

New Face on the County Council

On behalf of the Green Party, I’d like to extend my thanks to former Dún Laoghaire Councillor Kealin Ireland for all the effort she has put in over the last four years. Kealin, who resigned her Council seat before Christmas, worked extremely hard on the preservation of Dún Laoghaire Golf Course as a green space and, more recently, on the controversial issue of the proposed ten-storey development

on the site of Dún Laoghaire Baths.

in the county to lobby on a range of open space and amenity issues. She also has a track record on heritage issues through her work with An Taisce.

Cllr. Gene Feighery and Ciaran Cuffe TD at Dún Laoghaire train station

I’d also like to take this opportunity to welcome on board Councillor Gene Feighery who has been coopted on to the Council in Kealin’s place. Gene founded Combined Residents to Save Open Space (CRSOS), an organisation originally established to save Dún Laoghaire Golf Club. CRSOS expanded over the years and now works with almost fifty residents' associations

Kealin remains hugely committed to the Green agenda and will continue to work enthusiastically with the party and Cllr. Feighery to ensure maximum success in 2009. Web

www.CiaranCuffe.com/DunLaoghaire

Playground at Blackrock Park

Improvements for Blackrock Park

Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council is drawing up a master plan for the development of Blackrock Park. In our submission, we outlined we’d like to see improved pedestrian access and less car parking than the Council are proposing. Any increase in car parking should have the agreement of local residents and should not attract from the amenity of the Park.

Proposals to include recycling facilities and tea rooms in the park are welcome and we feel the Council could also consider placing a prominent civic building such as Blackrock library within the park, though such a proposal would have to carefully respect and compliment the Park and nearby protected structures.

The Council could also consider introducing vegetable allotments which could add significantly to the amenity of the park. We also feel any plan should be subject to a Strategic Environmental Assessment Web

www.CiaranCuffe.Com/Blackrock

Success for Young Scientists

Directly Elected Mayor for Dublin As part of the Programme for Government, the Green Party has ensured that there is now a written agreement to provide for a directly elected Mayor for Dublin with executive powers by 2011. We envisage this person would be elected to head a democratically elected Council for Metropolitan Dublin to include the current four Dublin local authorities. This Council, headed by a mayor with executive powers, would make decisions regarding the long term strategic management of the city including land-use and transportation. We want to see communities and citizens

having a greater say in how their city is run, how their needs are met and how local services are delivered. Electing a mayor directly accountable to the people would go some way to addressing this. It is one of the Green Party’s core beliefs that decision making take place at the lowest effective level. Devolving decision making powers as part of a reform of local government would ensure better engagement between communities and elected representatives as well as greater democratic accountability. Web

www.CiaranCuffe.com/writings

Action on Burma Before Christmas I met with members of the Burma / Myanmar Government in Exile in Leinster House. The Burmese Prime Minister, Dr. Sein Win, is a cousin of Aung San Suu Kyi, a leading pro-democracy activist and leader of the National League for Democracy.

I was delighted to have the opportunity to meet Dr. Sein Win and hear first hand of the difficulties in the region. Dermot Ahern TD, Minister for Foreign Affairs, has urged the UN Security Council to place pressure on the military regime to move towards democracy in the country. According to Amnesty International, more than 1,300 political prisoners have been imprisoned after unfair trials. Hopefully international pressure will continue and this will facilitate the release from house arrest of the Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The Green Party has written to the Burmese Consulate in London requesting that the junta allow peaceful protest to take place and open a genuine and open dialogue to move towards reconciliation. Since the election I have become the Green Party’s Foreign Affairs Spokesperson, and I am trying to ensure that the Green Party’s long-standing interest in peace and justice issues continues. Web

I was delighted to have the opportunity to visit this year’s BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition in the RDS, and to meet with participating schools from the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown area. The exhibition, now in its 44th year, brings together students from all over the country to celebrate and advance the contribution made by science and technology to our society.

www.BurmaActionIreland.org

Ciarán with Colaiste Íosagáin students at the Young Scientists Exhibition

Local schools were well represented at this year’s exhibition, and the diversity and ingenuity of the projects was extremely impressive, with everything from the science of betting on football matches to preventing rear-end traffic collisions being examined. Many of the projects concerned environmental issues, and the enthusiasm and ability of the students was fantastic. I had last been at the exhibition two years ago and it was notable that many of the projects this time round focussed on climate change.

Congratulations to students from Coláiste Iosagáin, Oatlands College, Rathdown, St. Andrew’s, Sion Hill, Rosemont, St. Lawrence’s and Loreto Foxrock for their participation and successes in the exhibition. It was great to meet up with so many of you in the RDS! Ciarán Cuffe TD, Dr Thaung Htun, Mary White TD and Burma Prime Minister-in-Exile Dr. Sein Win at Leinster House

Web

www.btyoungscientist.ie

Your Green Team BLACKROCK WARD COUNCILLOR NESSA CHILDERS is a Psychoanalyst and lectures in Trinity College. She is on the Transport and Housing Committees of the Council. Her interests include traffic management for Blackrock, and Safe Routes to school. You can contact Nessa directly at [email protected], M 086 818 6712, 14 Gledswood Avenue, Dublin 14

DÚN LAOGHAIRE WARD Recycling facilities on Killiney Hill

More Recycling for Dún Laoghaire Green Party Environment Minister John Gormley has made available over €350,000 in funding to Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council to assist them with the operational costs of bring banks and civic amenity facilities. The allocation will come from the Environment Fund, established with revenues obtained from the Plastic Bag Levy introduced in March 2002 and the Landfill Levy introduced in July 2002. The Fund is used to provide assistance or support in respect of a range of waste management, litter and other environmental initiatives. What has been shown over the last number of years is that where the recycling facilities are in place, people will respond enthusiastically. They want to play their part and I hope this money will help enable Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council to provide new recycling facilities closer to where people live to make it easier for them to recycle. Web

www.CiaranCuffe.com/Waste

Get Active

Fill in the form and send it back to us at 96 Patrick Street Dún Laoghaire. We meet each month in Dún Laoghaire. Check Ciarán's website for details.

Green Party Comhaontas Glas Justice, Foreign Affairs and Transport Spokesperson 96 Patrick Street (Over the Pet Shop) Dún Laoghaire Tel 284 6060, Fax. 618 4341 Email: [email protected]

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COUNCILLOR GENE FEIGHERY left her career in financial services to become a fulltime homemaker and mother. Gene studied Landscape Architecture and Design and is a member of An Taisce, The Irish Georgian Society, Royal Horticultural Society, and the Garden Landscape & Design Association. Gene is committed to proper planning and sustainable development for Dún Laoghaire and believes that the town’s unique heritage will secure its prosperity. You can contact Gene directly at [email protected], M 086 350 1198, 1 Eglinton Park, Dún Laoghaire

BALLYBRACK WARD COUNCILLOR TOM KIVLEHAN is from Cabinteely and has a business and tourism background. He is on the Economic Development and Planning, and Environment Committees of the Council. He is Chairman of the Board of Management of Cabinteely Community School and sits on the Health Executive Forum. His priorities are good planning for new communities, supporting small businesses, and protecting the Green Belt and the local environment. You can contact Tom directly at [email protected] H 204 3916, M 086 818 Tullyvale, 6717, 33 East Courtyard, Cherrywood, Cabinteely