Archive for the 'Ringaskiddy' Category

Cllr. Donnelly’s response to the disgraceful article in today’s Irish Examiner from the Port of Cork

Published June 5, 2009 Cork Harbour , Economy , Local Elections , Marine , Planning , Port of Cork , Ringaskiddy Leave a Comment

There is an article on page 8 of today’s Irish Examiner by Sean O’Riordan, with comments from Capt. Michael McCarthy of the Port of Cork, which can be described as nothing less than scurrilous and pure propaganda.  For a journalist of Sean O’Riordan’s standing to put his name to a diatribe like this shows that there is no such thing as journalism any more, just propaganda and spin.  For Sean O’Riordan not to give either Dan Boyle or myself a right to respond to the completely false allegations against us personally and against the Green Party contained in the article, and for the article to appear in the paper on polling day when there is no time for a right of reply shows a complete lack of any journalistic ethic by either Sean O’Riordan or his editors.

As for the Port of Cork getting involved so overtly politically, this is not surprising, as their senior management and board are riddled with political appointees.  Previously I would have considered Michael McCarthy a gentleman.  I clearly gave the man too much credit.  For him to misconstue in this way what the Green Party, through Dan Boyle and myself, has said and done with regard to Cork Harbour and the Port of Cork, is to show that this article is purely an attempt at political manipulation by the Port, and the article has no basis in fact.

I will finish by saying that I hope people are not taken in by this rant from the Port of Cork.  For the record there are links below to both my written and oral statements to An Bord Pleanala on the Port of Cork’s application to move their container terminal to Ringaskiddy last year.  These clearly outline that while I did vehemently oppose the port’s proposal, I am not in any way anti-port or anti-trade.  In fact within my oral submission I argue that in the long term this move would make the region less competitive, as the port would quite simply be located in the wrong place in the harbour.  I sincerely believe that if this move goes ahead, it will prove in the long term to be detrimental to Irish trade and local industry.  The Green Party’s proposals for the development of tourism infrastructure in Cork Harbour are not in any way anti-port or anti-trade.

Dominick’s written submission to An Bord Pleanala about Port of Cork’s proposal to move their container terminal to Ringaskiddy:  http://dominickdonnelly.com/links/written-submission-to-an-bord-pleanala-about-port-of-cork-in-ringaskiddy/

Dominick’s oral submission to An Bord Pleanala oral hearing for the Port of Cork’s proposal to move their container terminal to Ringaskiddy:  http://dominickdonnelly.com/links/dominicks-oral-submission-to-port-of-cork-oral-hearing/

Cllr. Donnelly welcomes Minister Gormley’s clarification of waste policy for all planning authorities

Published June 3, 2009 Cork Harbour , Economy , Environment , Incineration , National Issues , Planning , Ringaskiddy , Waste Leave a Comment

3rd June 2009

Department of Environment circular to all planning authorities makes it clear that mechanical and biological treatments, not incineration, are to be the cornerstones of national waste policy in the future

The Green Party’s candidate for the Carrigaline area of Cork County Council and for Passage West Town Council, Cllr. Dominick Donnelly, has welcomed the letter which has been circulated to all planning authorities around the country from the Department of the Environment, which clarifies that waste policy in the country is changing, with the emphasis switching away from incineration towards mechanical and biological treatment. This circular comes in advance of the full review of national waste policy which is currently being undertaken by consultants Eunomia, and which is due to be complete in July.

Cllr. Donnelly said: “This clarification that incineration is no longer a cornerstone of national waste policy, coupled with the recent introduction of an incineration levy comparable to the landfill levy, is highly significant for the planning application currently before An Bord Pleanála for two incinerators at Ringaskiddy. The oral hearing for that application is due to resume next Monday, and surely the message is coming loud and clear from Government that incineration is no longer part of Government policy. Given that when the Ringaskiddy incinerators were granted planning five years ago by An Bord Pleanála it was solely on the basis that it was Government policy, this clarification from Minister Gormley, I think now makes it impossible for the board to reasonably grant planning for the Ringaskiddy incinerators.”

“As well as this circular, and the recent incineration levies, I have seen the text of an order which Minister Gormley will be issuing next week, which in effect reinstates the Proximity Principle. This effectively means that any incinerator or landfill can only accept waste from whichever of the eight waste management regions in which it is situated. The Ringaskiddy incinerators would therefore be only able to accept waste from within County Cork. This really makes them non-viable financially, and so should be another nail in their coffin,” continued Cllr. Donnelly.

Cllr. Donnelly concluded: “With this series of measures introduced by Minister Gormley in recent weeks, I hope it is now patently clear that incineration is no longer a key component of national waste management policy. While an outright ban on incineration is not currently possible due to existing planning permissions in Poolbeg in Dublin, and in Carranstown, Co. Meath, it is now clear that Government policy is heading in that direction. Incineration is so clearly not the way we should be dealing with our waste. A proper waste industry based on reuse, recycling within this country, and mechanical and biological treatments is the only policy that makes any sense, both in terms of economics and the environment.”

 

Full text of Department of the Envrionment circular to planning authorities:

May 2009

Update on progress in respect of implementing the waste management provisions of the Programme for Government

 I am directed by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to update you on progress in respect of implementing the waste management provisions of the Programme for Government, and in particular the commitment to conduct an international review of waste management policy. 

 The Programme for Government makes major commitments in relation to national waste policy. In particular, there is an emphasis on moving away from the high reliance on incineration foreseen in the National Development Plan and reflected in the regional waste management plans for which the local authorities have statutory responsibility, generally operating in regional groupings. In this regard it is intended that there be an increased commitment to the use of alternative technologies, including those known as mechanical and biological treatment.

 The Department’s Statement of Strategy 2008-2010, which is published on the Department’s web site and which was noted by Government in July 2008, states:

 ”The new Programme for Government indicates a further development of waste and resource policy in the direction of sustainability, in particular, to move away from mass burn incineration towards alternative technologies and to minimise waste going to landfill, subject to the outcome of the review of the waste management strategy. This major international review being undertaken by the Department will address how best to implement waste prevention and minimisation, and the emergence of new technologies in waste management.”

 Progress on the review of waste management strategy

Consultants have been retained to conduct the study of waste policy options which will underpin the conclusion of the overall review later this year. This work is well advanced and a series of interim reports has been considered by the Review Steering Group. It is considered that the study itself should be concluded on time, July 2009, with policy proposals being brought to Government shortly thereafter.

 Interim policy measures

While this work is on target, it is acknowledged that progress towards meeting Ireland’s targets under the Landfill Directive and the requirements of the recently adopted Waste Framework Directive cannot wait. Therefore the Minister is pressing ahead with key initiatives which are compatible with the overall objectives of the review in order to meet the targets. These include:

  • increase in the landfill levy and the introduction of a levy on incineration;
  • roll-out of brown bin collections;
  • intensifying efforts to promote at source/home composting;
  • supporting small-scale local composting initiatives;
  • encouraging access to waste streams for composting/anaerobic digestion, recycling and other processes high on the waste hierarchy; and,
  • source segregated collection of commercial biowaste.

 The Minister has also initiated a Strategic Environmental Assessment on proposed policy directions to the EPA and local authorities which would (in relation to their functions under the Waste Management Acts and any instruments made thereunder), inter alia, require the recipients to:

  • limit incineration capacity to ensure that waste is not drawn to incineration which could have been dealt with by recycling or other methods higher up the waste hierarchy;
  • refrain from exercising their powers in such a way as to direct waste to landfill or incineration.

 The proposed policy direction is subject to consultation with both the public and all stakeholders, including local authorities.

 The above are interim actions intended to help meet the Landfill Directive targets while implementing the commitments in the Programme for Government. The Minister considers that they are in line with the policies emerging from the overall review.

 Queries in relation to this Circular may be addressed to the undersigned. 

 Yours sincerely,

­­­­­­Michael Layde

Principal Officer – Waste Policy: Review and Regulation

Cllr. Donnelly says the people of Cork Harbour will never allow the incinerators to be built

Published May 15, 2009 Amenity , Cork Harbour , Cork Swansea Ferry , Environment , Heritage , Incineration , Marine , Monkstown , Passage West , Ringaskiddy , Transport , Waste Leave a Comment

15th May 2009

Cllr. Dominick Donnelly, Green Party member of Passage West Town Council and candidate for Cork County Council, addressed the An Bord Pleanála oral hearing into the Ringaskiddy incinerators yesterday.  The hearing has now adjourned for the next three weeks.

After the hearing, Cllr. Donnelly, who is a member of the CHASE steering committee, said:  “In my presentation to the An Bord Pleanála inspector I focused on three main areas.  The first of these was that the direction of development in Cork Harbour has changed, away from being a purely industrial zone to becoming a centre for tourism, culture and amenity.  With the closure of the steelworks and the IFI fertilizer factory, Cork Harbour now has the chance to reach its potential as a premium waterfront destination.  The Cork Area Strategic Plan calls Cork Harbour ‘Europe’s most exciting waterfront’, and while it certainly has the potential to achieve that, it has not yet done so.  However with plans to open up Spike Island to visitors, existing planning permissions for marinas at Monkstown and Passage West, the return next year of the Cork Swansea ferry service, and with ongoing efforts to have Cork City and Harbour achieve UNESCO World Heritage Site status, the impetus for development has clearly changed.  The building of a huge obtrusive incinerator in the middle of all of this, would surely scupper any chance of Cork Harbour achieving the global recognition it should have.  Sydney Harbour has its iconic Opera House, Cork Harbour would have a monstrous incinerator.”

Cllr. Donnelly continued:  “I also discussed how my Green Party colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, John Gormley, has made clear statements as to how national waste policy is changing.  Given that five years ago the incinerator was granted planning permission solely on the basis that it was Government policy, it is crucial that the inspector and the board understand that Government policy is shifting.  While the full review of waste policy is still underway, and won’t be ready until the Autumn, the Minister has made many clear indications that the policy has shifted away from incineration.  For example he recently indicated that there will be a doubling of the landfill levies later this year, with the introduction of a similar incineration levy, with the express intent of making it less economically viable to landfill or burn our waste, and to encourage waste minimisation, recycling and reuse.”

“I finished my presentation by focusing on how there is absolutely no community acceptance for the incinerators in the communities around the harbour, and beyond into the wider Cork community.  These communities have fought the incinerators for eight years already unbowed, and will continue to fight for as long as it takes.  I told the inspector that it would save our communities a lot of future grief is she refused this planning application now, but that the communities would never allow the incinerators to be built, whatever that takes,” concluded Cllr. Donnelly.

The full text of Cllr. Donnelly’s oral presentation to An Bord Pleanála is available at:  http://dominickdonnelly.com/links/dominicks-oral-submission-to-indaver-oral-hearing/

Dominick’s oral submission to An Bord Pleanala on Ringaskiddy incinerators

Published May 14, 2009 Amenity , Cork Harbour , Cork Swansea Ferry , Economy , Energy , Environment , Heritage , Incineration , Marine , Ringaskiddy , Waste Leave a Comment

Click on link:  http://dominickdonnelly.com/links/dominicks-oral-submission-to-indaver-oral-hearing/

Cllr. Donnelly welcomes announcement of new weekly bus service from Passage West to Carrigaline, under the Rural Transport Scheme

Published May 11, 2009 Carrigaline , Monkstown , Older People , Passage West , Ringaskiddy , Transport Leave a Comment

11th May 2009

Cllr. Dominick Donnelly, Green Party member of Passage West Town Council and candidate for Cork County Council, has welcomed the announcement by South and East Cork Area Development (SECAD) of a new weekly bus service from Passage West to Carrigaline, via Monkstown and Ringaskiddy, under the Rural Transport Scheme.

Cllr. Donnelly, who is a director of SECAD, said: “This new bus service, which will run on a Friday and which will start in mid-June, is wonderful news for the communities of Passage West, Monkstown, Ringaskiddy, Shanbally and Carrigaline.  The Rural Transport Scheme is primarily aimed at older members of the community, and it will be wonderful for them to be able to access Carrigaline, even if it is only once a week.  All of the new services which SECAD have started under the Rural Transport Scheme over the past year or so have been successful, with increasing numbers availing of the service, and I have no doubt that the Passage West to Carrigaline service will be just as successful.”

“I first put a motion before Passage West Town Council on the issue of starting a bus service between Passage West and Carrigaline about four years ago, and there was a follow up meeting between the town council and Joe Fitzgerald of Bus Eireann on this issue, but in the intervening years we have heard nothing back from Bus Eireann.  It is ludicrous that there is no public transport service linking the communities of Passage West, Monkstown and Ringaskiddy with Carrigaline.  This has caused major problems for the communities over the years, and has led to a very high level of car dependency in the area, which is simply not sustainable into the future.  I do hope that this new service will show to Bus Eireann that there is a demand for such a service, and that they will finally establish a full daily service along this route,” concluded Cllr. Donnelly.

Cllr. Donnelly expresses regret that Cork Swansea ferry service will not resume until 2010

Published May 6, 2009 Cork Harbour , Cork Swansea Ferry , Economy , Marine , Ringaskiddy , Transport Leave a Comment

6th May 2009

Cllr. Dominick Donnelly, Green Party member of Passage West Town Council and candidate for Cork County Council, has expressed regret that the new Cork to Swansea ferry service, which has been backed by a Cork based co-operative, will not now start its service until 2010.

Cllr. Dominick Donnelly, who is an investor in the co-operative backing the ferry, said:  “It is a great pity that the operators were not able to get this service up and running this year.  However they were always going to be up against the wire time-wise, and the delays in sorting out the purchase of the ferry Julia in Finland have made it impossible to get up and running in time for the main season this year.  I wish to congratulate all of those who have put in enormous work to try to get this going this year, and we must all now be patient, and wait till next year to see this vital service up and running.”

“With the airline industry in an inevitable long slow decline due to climate change and rising oil prices, it is vital that our ferry and shipping links are developed.  We are an island, and shipping will be absolutely essential for trade and tourism in the years and decades to come.  Those behind the resumption of the Cork Swansea ferry service will be seen to be visionaries in the future.  It is the only form of international transport which the planet can sustain,” Cllr. Donnelly concluded.

The people of Cork will not be taken in by Indaver’s flowery language, says Cllr. Donnelly

Published May 5, 2009 Cork Harbour , Environment , Incineration , Ringaskiddy Leave a Comment

5th May 2009

As the second week of the An Bord Pleanála oral hearing into the application by Indaver Ireland to build two incinerators in Ringaskiddy, Co. Cork begins, the Green Party’s candidate for the Carrigaline electoral area of Cork County Council and for Passage West Town Council, Cllr. Dominick Donnelly, has criticised Indaver for trying to hide from the public the true magnitude of the effects their incinerators would have.

“For most of last week, when Indaver were presenting their case to An Bord Pleanála, their “experts” hid behind impenetrable and obscure language, which the ordinary members of the public had no hope in understanding.  In fact the Inspector reprimanded them for this.  When Indaver did eventually condescend to speak in more ordinary language, they made it sound as if what they planned to build would have no more impact on the people of Cork than if they were planting a flower garden.  They claimed their incinerators would have such little effect on health, visual amenity, traffic, property values, wildlife, pollution, etc, that any community should be welcoming them with open arms ,” Cllr. Donnelly said.

“However the people of Cork are not so gullible as to be taken in by this hogwash.  The communities around the lower harbour are resolute in their opposition to Indaver’s proposal, and have very good reasons for opposing these incinerators so vehemently.  We know that these incinerators would have permanent detrimental effects on the quality of life of those living anywhere close to Cork Harbour, and we are not willing to accept those risks.  We know that incinerators are bad for our health, particularly for young children and the unborn.  We now that this will create a bad perception of Cork Harbour as the country’s dumping ground.  We know that building incinerators at the end of a peninsula with only one main road in makes no planning sense.  We know that the scale of the building proposed would be a permanent blot on the wonderful visual landscape of Cork Harbour.  However we also know that we will do everything in our power to prevent this happening, as we have clearly shown over the past eight years,” Cllr. Donnelly concluded.

Cllr. Donnelly welcomes the Government’s setting up of an Inter-Departmental Marine Co-ordinating Group

Published May 2, 2009 Cork Harbour , Cork Swansea Ferry , Economy , Marine , Ringaskiddy , Transport Leave a Comment

2nd May 2009

The Green Party’s candidate for the Carrigaline electoral area of Cork County Council and for Passage West Town Council, Cllr. Dominick Donnelly, has welcomed the announcement by the Minister of State with special responsibility for forestry, fisheries and the marine, Tony Killeen, that the Government has set up a high-level Inter-Departmental Marine Co-ordinating Group.

“As a public representative alongside the second largest natural harbour in the world, Cork Harbour, I welcome this initiative from the Government. It shows that the Government are taking maritime matters seriously. As an island nation, we have not always given maritime matters the attention we should have, but the sea is one of our greatest assets, and we are completely dependent on shipping for a huge proportion of our international trade,” Cllr. Donnelly said.

“With the twin problems of climate change and peak oil signalling the inevitable demise of air travel over the next couple of decades, we will once again have to look more to the sea for most, if not all, of our international trade and travel. Also much or our energy will be coming from the sea in the near future, with the technology for both wave and tidal power developing apace, as well as off-shore wind power. In Cork Harbour we have the prospect of the Marine and Energy Research Cluster (MERC) developing in Ringaskiddy, alongside the National Maritime College of Ireland, as well as the resumption of a ferry service between Cork and Swansea during the summer (Fastnet Line). Maritime matters will be even more central to our economic wellbeing in the future, and it is important that the Government take maritime issues seriously now to plan for that future,” Cllr. Donnelly concluded.

Cllr. Donnelly urges council authorities to be strict on illegal posters

Published April 30, 2009 Carrigaline , Douglas , Litter , Local Elections , Monkstown , Passage West , Ringaskiddy Leave a Comment

30th April 2009

Candidates that erect early should be fined, say Greens

The Green Party’s candidate for the Carrigaline electoral area of Cork County Council and for Passage West Town Council, Cllr. Dominick Donnelly, today urged the council authorities to be vigilant about candidates that illegally put up their election posters early.

The Environment Minister John Gormley recently issued a reminder to all candidates participating in the upcoming local and European elections that posters may not be erected any earlier than 6th May, which is 30 days before the polling date of June 5th. His department has also written to local authorities and political parties reminding them of their responsibilities.

“It is within the council’s authority to issues on-the-spot litter fines to any candidate in breach of the time limits, either before or after the election, and I would urge them to do so if they find any posters up before the 6th May,” Cllr. Donnelly said.

“Litter is a problem in the community and so is visual pollution. Election candidates are permitted to put up posters for a 30 day period before polling day in order to inform the public about the candidates standing for office. Those who abuse this right should be dealt with firmly.  Candidates and their election teams should also be mindful not to erect posters in locations that might impact on the line of sight of road users,”  Cllr. Donnelly added.

“While posters advertising public meetings are permitted, any members of the public that see election posters up early should contact Cork County Council on (021) 4276891.”

Cork County Council must check out the ownership of Gobby Beach car park in Ringaskiddy, says Cllr. Donnelly

Published April 29, 2009 Amenity , Cork Harbour , Incineration , Ringaskiddy Leave a Comment

29th April 2009 

The car park at Gobby Beach in Ringaskiddy has been put on the market by the liquidator for Irish Ispat, through auctioneers Lisney at their Cork office.  Cllr. Dominick Donnelly, the Green Party member of Passage West Town Council and candidate for Cork County Council for the Douglas area, has asked Cork County Council to check out the ownership of this car park, as local residents always thought it belonged to the county council, and the county council have maintained the car park, and have put bottle banks on it.

 

Cllr. Donnelly said:  “I have asked Declan Daly, the Divisional Manager for the South Cork area, to check into the ownership of this car park.  The local understanding is that this car park is already owned by Cork County Council, but it has recently been put up for sale by the liquidator of Irish Ispat through Lisney’s auctioneers.  If it transpires that Cork County Council do not own the car park, then I urge them to acquire it as an essential piece of local infrastructure.”

 

“It is essential that this car park stays in public ownership, as it is well used by the general public, and is the only access to Gobby Beach, one of very few beaches in Cork Harbour.  The auctioneer has informed me that a sale of this car park was negotiated with the Office of Public Works a few years ago, but it did not proceed.  Really the only logical owner for this car park is the local authority, and they must investigate this as a matter of urgency,”  continued Cllr. Donnelly.

 

Additional Information:  The Gobby Beach car park is at the end of the Ringaskiddy peninsula, near the bridge to Haulbowline and adjacent to Indaver’s site, where they are currently applying to build two incinerators.

Next Page »

Latest from Twitter

  • Got my posters down finally. Now for life after the election! 9 months ago
  • Polling day at last. Have to finish marking exams first though! 9 months ago
  • Going to launch of Green Party manifesto for Cork at the Clarion Hotel at 11.30. Otherwise canvassing, canvassing, canvassing! 9 months ago

Photos of Dominick

Dominick Donnelly and Dan Boyle unveiling Dominick's anti-incineration poster at Shannonpark roundabout, Carrigaline

Dominick's anti-incineration poster

Dominick with his three sons, Theo, Noah and Tate

Dominick with Green Party Deputy Leader Mary White in Douglas Court SC

Cork South Central Local Election candidates with Mary White in Douglas Court SC

More Photos
Watch videos at Vodpod and other videos from this collection.

 

March 2010
M T W T F S S
« Jun    
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
293031