Archive for April 15th, 2009

« Previous Entries
Next Entries »

Cllr. Donnelly welcomes announcement of oral hearing for Ringaskiddy incinerators

Published April 15, 2009 Cork Harbour , Environment , Incineration Leave a Comment

27th March 2009

Cllr. Dominick Donnelly, the Green Party member of Passage West Town Council and candidate for the Carrigaline electoral area of Cork County Council, has welcomed the announcement from An Bord Pleanála that they will conduct an oral hearing into the application by Indaver Ireland to build two incinerators (one for municipal waste and one for toxic waste), starting on the 27th April at the Cork Airport Hotel.

Cllr. Donnelly said: “For those of us who have been fighting these incinerators for the past eight years, the announcement of this oral hearing is welcome news, as I am confident that this oral hearing will kill off Indaver’s ridiculous and dangerous proposals, once and for all.  The communities around the lower harbour have developed huge expertise in fighting planning applications such as this, and I am confident that by presenting a united front in opposition to this proposal, it will finally be defeated this time.”

Cllr. Donnelly welcomes progress on Star of the Sea National School, Passage West

Published April 15, 2009 Education , Passage West Leave a Comment

26th March 2009

Cllr. Dominick Donnelly, the Green Party member of Passage West Town Council and candidate for the Carrigaline electoral area of Cork County Council, has welcomed the news that a briefing meeting will take place today (Thursday 26th March) between the Department of Education and Science with the Principal of Star of the Sea National School, the Chairperson of the Board of Management, and members of the design team for the new school.

Cllr. Donnelly, who with his party colleague Senator Dan Boyle, have been pushing for the new school to be progressed as fast as possible, said: “It is great news that the new school for Star of the Sea is progressing, as the current school is at breaking point, with far more classrooms in prefabs than in proper classrooms.  I sincerely hope that this project will continue to progress apace, and I look forward to the day when the pupils of Passage West have their new school.”

Cllr. Donnelly encourages residents to sign up for insulation grants

Published April 15, 2009 Energy Leave a Comment

25th March 2009

Home energy saving scheme now open for business

Cllr. Dominick Donnelly, the Green Party member of Passage West Town Council and candidate for the Carrigaline electoral area of Cork County Council, has called on local residents in the South Cork area to sign up for the Government’s insulation scheme which began processing applications today. Installing better insulation and heating systems can save homeowners up to €700 annually on their electricity bills.

Cllr. Donnelly said: “There has been an unprecedented level of interest in insulation grants, and the scheme has the potential to create thousands of jobs and halve electricity bills.

“Already nearly 100,000 people have registered their interest in the scheme with Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI), the agency that will administer the grants. I am encouraging both local homeowners and local builders who may be short of work at the moment to get involved.

“Insulation is the single best way of saving money on energy. The home energy saving scheme will see homeowners save up to €700 annually on their electricity bills. This, coupled with recent reductions in electricity prices is great news for consumers in these tight times.

“We also need more qualified contractors to come on board in order to carry out all of the additional work. I would urge contractors in south Cork to register with SEI and secure a major business boost for themselves in the process. The level of public interest is such that contractors can be assured of work for themselves and maybe even expand their businesses.

“It’s good news for our pockets, for the economy and for the environment,” Cllr. Donnelly concluded.

Cllr. Donnelly welcomes progress on Swansea Cork ferry

Published April 15, 2009 Cork Harbour , Cork Swansea Ferry , Marine , Transport Leave a Comment

19th March 2009

In advance of a delegation from Finland arriving in Cork on Friday to discuss the sale of the ship Julia to the Swansea Cork ferry co-operative, Cllr. Dominick Donnelly, the Green Party candidate for the Carrigaline electoral area of Cork County Council and Passage West Town Council said:  “It is wonderful news that a delegation are coming from Finland to discuss the sale of this ship, and we hope these negotiations are successful.  As an investor in the co-operative set up to reinstate this essential ferry service, may I congratulate the efforts of all those involved, as the €3 million target has just about been reached.  I would encourage anyone who has not yet invested in this initiative to do so, if they are in a position to do so.”

We must all support Cork City and Harbour’s application to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site, says Cllr. Donnelly

Published April 15, 2009 Cork Harbour , Environment , Heritage Leave a Comment

16th March 2009

Following the submission earlier this year to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government for Cork City and Harbour to be considered for designation as a World Heritage Site, Cllr. Dominick Donnelly, the Green Party candidate for the Carrigaline electoral area of Cork County Council and Passage West Town Council said:  “We now need to start building some momentum in support of this application.  To this end I will be tabling a motion at Passage West Town Council at next month’s meeting, which will also be tabled at Cobh Town Council, and hopefully also at Cork City and County Councils.  It is important that all relevant organisations in the city and harbour area inform themselves of this application, and support it in whatever way they can.”

Cllr. Donnelly continued:  “The designation of Cork City and Harbour as a UNESCO World Heritage Site would help the region achieve the global renown it should have.  The story of Cork City and Harbour is of global significance, as a provisioning port, and a point of departure for the Irish diaspora whether for emigration or deportation to penal colonies, and as a significant naval base.  Much of the infrastructure that supported this history is still in place, with the naval base at Haulbowline, Spike Island, the harbour forts, and all the commercial infrastructure in the city, such as the Port of Cork buildings and the Butter Market.  Meitheal Mara and the Cork Harbour Forum are to be commended for initiating this process, and we must all now work together to ensure this application proceeds.”

Green Party motion aims to stop TDs and senators getting double salaries

Published April 15, 2009 Education , National Issues Leave a Comment

9th March 2009

At its annual convention over the weekend, the Green Party / Comhaontas Glas passed a motion calling on its parliamentary party to instigate legislation which will stop members of the Oireachtas who were previously public servants from effectively drawing two salaries.  Under the current situation members of the Oireachtas who were public servants, mostly teachers, can take an indefinite leave of absence from their position, and still draw their full salary with all increments and pensions entitlements, and from this salary they must pay for a substitute, who is invariably on a much lower point on the salary scale, with the Oireachtas member pocketing the difference.

The motion, which was put forward by the Cork South Central Greens, was proposed by the Green Party candidate for the South Central ward of Cork City Council, Mary Ryder.  Commenting on the motion, Ms. Ryder said:  “This motion is about removing double standards, which politicians have voted for themselves.  These double standards anger the public, and cost the taxpayer money.  There is simply no justification for this.  Members of all parties except the Green Party have availed of this, some for more than twenty years, purely to line their own pockets to the tune of maybe an extra €20,000 – €30,000 per annum on top of their Oireachtas salary.  This has to stop and it has to stop now.”

At the convention the motion was also supported by Cllr. Dominick Donnelly, the Green Party candidate for the Carrigaline electoral area of Cork County Council and Passage West Town Council.  Cllr. Donnelly commented:  “This is the sort of thing which leads the public to regard politicians as only being in politics for what they can get out of it.  It devalues politics, and undermines the public’s trust in those who are meant to be running the country.  The only Green Party member of the Oireachtas who could have availed of this perk, Minister Trevor Sargent, has never done so.  On election to the Dáil, Trevor Sargent immediately resigned his post as a national school principal.  However members from all other parties have shown a complete lack of morals by taking an unlimited leave of absence from their positions, and continuing to draw their salaries while also drawing their Oireachtas salaries.  This is an abomination.”

 

Full text of motion:

This convention

  • notes that a number of elected representatives have taken temporary leave from public and civil service posts, including teaching.
  • proposes that, on election to the Seanad, Dáil or European Parliament, such a career break be granted on the same basis as to all other teachers and other civil and public servants who take a career break: they have five years in which to either return to their jobs or retire, they do not receive a career salary or part thereof during their absence, they do not advance again on the incremental salary scale until and unless they resume their career.
  • mandates its parliamentarians to initiate the legislative change necessary to implement this policy within the lifetime of  this Dáil.

Green Party motion aims to make incinerators non-viable

Published April 15, 2009 Cork Harbour , Environment , Incineration , National Issues Leave a Comment

9th March 2009

At its annual convention over the weekend, the Green Party / Comhaontas Glas passed a motion, calling on the Minister for the Environment, John Gormley, to sign a ministerial order to reinstate the proximity principle for waste management.  The reinstatement of the proximity principle would mean that waste for disposal, incineration or landfill, would not be able to be transferred between any of Ireland’s eight waste regions.  In other words all waste for disposal would have to be dealt with within each region.  The proximity principle was removed a number of years ago by a ministerial order signed by Dick Roche during his time as Minister for the Environment.

The motion, which was put forward by the Cork East Greens, was proposed by the Green Party candidate for the Midleton electoral area of Cork County Council and Midleton Town Council, Malachy Harty.  Commenting on the motion, Mr. Harty said:  “This motion is very important in that it helps to make the proposed incinerators in Ringaskiddy non-viable as they would only be able to take waste from the Cork waste region, and not bring it in from anywhere else in the country.  I am delighted that the members of the Green Party supported this motion at the annual convention by more than a two thirds majority.  This mandates our party leader, the Minister for the Environment John Gormley, to put the ministerial order in place.”

At the convention the motion was also supported by Cllr. Dominick Donnelly, the Green Party candidate for the Carrigaline electoral area of Cork County Council and Passage West Town Council.  Cllr. Donnelly commented:  “I am confident that our party leader will act on this motion very shortly, and this will put a further nail in the coffin for Indaver’s plans to build two incinerators in Ringaskiddy, which are currently before An Bord Pleanála.  For those of us who have been fighting Indaver for the past eight years on this issue, this is great news, and gives us hope that there is light at the end of the tunnel.”

 

Full text of motion:

East Cork Greens propose that the Minister for the Environment should reinstate the proximity principal for residual waste disposal. The proximity principal will require that waste being burned at an incinerator must be sourced within the same county or region that it’s created in. This would dramatically reduce the viability of incineration as a waste disposal method.

East Cork has a rich tourism and agricultural tradition. The area continues to shine in both sectors and has wonderful potential for creating increased value and employment into the future. The area is becoming recognised for its store of good food and culinary mastery. A prominent incinerator on the harbour shores will be detrimental to these sectors.

With good reason, there is a strong fear in Cobh, Midleton and East Cork generally that the proposed incinerator at Ringaskiddy will present a high risk of pollution. These towns lie directly downwind of the proposed incinerator site so that public health, agriculture and tourism will be subject to emissions in the long term. There are also risks from accidents, which happen more frequently that we are asked to believe.

East Cork Greens propose that the Minister for the Environment should reinstate the proximity principal for residual waste disposal. This would apply to waste for landfill or incineration. It would not apply to recyclable or compostable streams. This is something that the Minister for the Environment can do which will make any large scale incinerator in the country unviable, or certainly dramatically reduce its viability. The proximity principal will require that waste being burned at an incinerator must be sourced within the same county or waste region.

The Green Party should promote waste minimisation, recycling and composting, locally. These are growth industries and are ‘Towards a Green New Deal’. Incineration is not.

Reduction in timetable for Cross River Ferry bad for harbour communities, says Cllr. Donnelly

Published April 15, 2009 Cork Harbour , Marine , Monkstown , Passage West , Transport Leave a Comment

5th March 2009

Following the introduction of a reduced timetable on the Cross River Ferry between Glenbrook and Carrigaloe earlier this week, Green Party candidate for the Carrigaline area of Cork County Council and Passage West Town Council, Cllr. Dominick Donnelly said:  “This reduction in the timetable of the Cross River Ferry is disastrous for the communities around the harbour.  The Cross River Ferry is a vital piece of local infrastructure which joins the communities on both sides of the harbour, and helps them work together.  The fact that the last ferry now runs at about 10 pm, whereas previously the last ferry went at about midnight, will cause all sorts of problems for a large number of people and organisations around the harbour.  The alternative to using the ferry to get across the lower harbour is a round trip via the Jack Lynch Tunnel of over ten miles.  I call on the owners of the Cross River Ferry to reverse this decision to reduce the timetable.”

Cllr. Donnelly continued:  “This reduced service will make it very difficult for people living on one side of the harbour to participate in evening social events on the other side of the harbour.  It will also make it very difficult for organisations with representation from both sides of the harbour to hold evening meetings.  I am involved in two such organisations, the Cork Harbour Environmental Protection Association (CHEPA) and Cork Harbour for A Safe Environment (CHASE), and having to have all meetings finished in time for people to get the last ferry at 10 pm will prove difficult, if not impossible.  This does not auger well for cross harbour cohesion, which has been a growing strength in the harbour.  This decision simply must be reversed.”

Fine Gael will struggle to take three seats in Carrigaline electoral area, says Cllr. Donnelly

Published April 15, 2009 Local Elections Leave a Comment

5th March 2009

 

Cllr. Donnelly is confident of being the first Green Party member of Cork County Council

Commenting on the recent defection of local councillor Deirdre Forde from Fianna Fail to Fine Gael, Green Party candidate for the Carrigaline area of Cork County Council and Passage West Town Council, Cllr. Dominick Donnelly said:  “It comes as no surprise to me that Cllr. Forde has abandoned Fianna Fail and gone over to Fine Gael in a desperate attempt to hold her seat.  However, even with three sitting councillors contesting, I really do not see Fine Gael taking three of the six seats in the Carrigaline electoral area.  I expect that either Councillor Forde, or one of her new party running mates, Cllrs. Lombard or Collins, will not hold their seat in June.”

Cllr. Donnelly continued:  “I have been out on the doors around the area for the past few weeks, and I am getting a very positive reception.  I fully expect to take one of the seats in the Carrigaline area in June, and become the first Green Party member of Cork County Council.  I was only about 150 votes short of taking a seat in 2004 on my first time out, and am confident of taking the seat this time around.  Cork County Council, which it must be remembered has been dominated by Fine Gael for over a decade, is in dire need of positive green thinking to prepare the county for what is coming in the future.”

Swansea Cork Ferry is an essential piece of local infrastructure, says Cllr. Donnelly

Published April 15, 2009 Cork Harbour , Cork Swansea Ferry , Marine , Transport Leave a Comment

2nd March 2009

 

We must all work together to reinstate the service

Commenting on the ongoing campaign to raise €3.5 million to restart the Cork Swansea ferry service, Green Party candidate for Cork County Council and Passage West Town Council in the local elections, Cllr. Dominick Donnelly said:  “It is vital that we get this service up and running again.  The co-operative that has been put together is to be applauded for all the work they have done to date, and people in the region must dig deep to ensure that they reach their target by the end of this week.  I have invested myself, and I urge others to do likewise.”

Cllr. Donnelly continued:  “With the vast majority of the world airlines not in profit, there is going to be an inevitable decline in air travel over the years and decades to come, with many airlines going out of business, and air fares will inevitably get more and more expensive.  Ferry companies have had a tough time competing with cheap air fares over the past number of years, but it will become easier over the next few years.  As an island nation on the edge of Europe, we must have adequate connectivity with our European neighbours, and this ferry service to the UK is an essential part of local infrastructure for Cork and for the whole of Munster.  If we are to have a viable tourism industry in the region, this is an essential part of the jigsaw.”

“I am not a wealthy man, but this service is so vital that I thought it important to invest.  I hope that everyone who is in a financial position to invest will at least consider investing by the end of this week, if they haven’t done so already.” Cllr. Donnelly concluded.

Photos of Dominick

Dominick Donnelly and Dan Boyle unveiling Dominick's anti-incineration poster at Shannonpark roundabout, CarrigalineDominick's anti-incineration posterDominick with his three sons, Theo, Noah and TateDominick with Green Party Deputy Leader Mary White in Douglas Court SCCork South Central Local Election candidates with Mary White in Douglas Court SC
More Photos
April 2009
M T W T F S S
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
27282930  
Design a site like this with WordPress.com
Get started