ciaran cuffe newsletter winter 07
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8/14/2019 Ciaran Cuffe Newsletter Winter 07
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Printed on unbleached, recycled paper
Winter 2008
From 1st January, new homes in Dn Laoghaire must meet energy efficiencystandards that are 40% higher than previous standards. They will lead to
significant improvements in wall, roof and floor insulation. New houses will becheaper to heat and will produce less climate change emissions. This was aninitiative spearheaded by Green Party Councillors.In addition, one of Minister Gormleys first acts in taking office was to extendthese regulations nationwide. This will provide for a dramatic improvement inthe energy efficiency for all new homes across Ireland. The new BuildingRegulations also provide for a mandatory minimum level of renewable energysources 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 tobuyers on the operation of the homes heating and energy control systems.Boilers will have to perform to minimum efficiency standards. Air testing, toensure 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 zerocarbon homes in the future. A review toimprove the regulations further (to 60 per centabove current levels) will be carried out in2010.
www.environ.ieWeb
The Cultivate Building - A good example of high energy and conservation standards.
I would like to sincerely thank the peopleof Dn Laoghaire for their support during theelection last year and for returning me to Dilireann. I look forward to working hard to
represent you in the 30th Dil and to getGreen Party policies implemented inGovernment.
We made the decision back in June togo into Government because we felt that vitalissues, such as Climate Change, could notwait for another five years. After being amember of the Green Party for 25 years thiswas one of my proudest days.
I believe we emerged with a programmethat will point Ireland in a greener directionover the next five years. It's not perfect andwe didn't get everything we wanted, but withtwo senior Green Party ministers in positions
at the heart our agenda, we are alreadyseeing fresh thinking and innovative action onclimate change, energy and environmentalissues.
I am particularly pleased we got anagreement on cutting our greenhouse gasemissions by 3% annually, directly electedmayors from 2011, and a commitment toproper planning - all key priorities of theGreen Party prior to entering Government.
www.CiarnCuffe.Com
Greener homes for Dn Laoghaire
Dn Laoghaire, Ballybrack, Blackrock, Booterstown, Cabinteely, Carrickmines, Clonkeen, Corke Abbey, Dalkey,Deansgrange, Foxrock, Glasthule, Glenageary, Killiney, Kill O The Grange, Kilternan, Leopardstown, Loughlinstown, Mount MerrionAvenue, Monkstown, Mountown, Old Connacht, The Park, Rathmichael, Rathsallagh, Sallynoggin, Sandycove, Seapoint, Shankill.
www.CiaranCuffe.com
A message fromCiarn Cuffe
Ciarn Cuffe TD during
Government negotiations last Summer
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Dn Laoghaire Rathdown CountyCouncil is drawing up a master plan forthe development of Blackrock Park. Inour submission, we outlined wed like tosee improved pedestrian access andless car parking than the Council areproposing. Any increase in car parkingshould have the agreement of localresidents and should not attract from theamenity of the Park.
Proposals to include recycling facilitiesand tea rooms in the park are welcomeand we feel the Council could alsoconsider placing a prominent civicbuilding such as Blackrock library withinthe park, though such a proposal wouldhave to carefully respect andcompliment the Park and nearbyprotected structures.
The Council could also considerintroducing vegetable allotments whichcould add significantly to the amenity ofthe park. We also feel any plan shouldbe subject to a Strategic EnvironmentalAssessment
www.CiaranCuffe.Com/BlackrockWeb
On behalf of the Green Party, Idlike to extend my thanks to formerDn Laoghaire Councillor KealinIreland for all the effort she has putin over the last four years. Kealin,who resigned her Council seatbefore Christmas, workedextremely hard on the preservationof Dn Laoghaire Golf Course as agreen space and, more recently, onthe controversial issue of theproposed ten-storey development
on the site of Dn Laoghaire Baths.
Id also like to take this opportunityto welcome on board Councillor
Gene Feighery who has been co-opted on to the Council in Kealinsplace. Gene founded CombinedResidents to Save Open Space(CRSOS), an organisation originallyestablished to save Dn LaoghaireGolf Club. CRSOS expanded overthe years and now works withalmost fifty residents' associations
in the county to lobby on a range ofopen space and amenity issues.She also has a track record onheritage issues through her work
with An Taisce.Kealin remains hugely committed tothe Green agenda and will continueto work enthusiastically with theparty and Cllr. Feighery to ensuremaximum success in 2009.
www.CiaranCuffe.com/DunLaoghaire
Cllr. Gene Feighery and Ciaran Cuffe TD at Dn Laoghaire train station
Playground at Blackrock Park
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Improvements for Blackrock Park
NewFace on
theCountyCouncil
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Success forYoungScientistsI was delighted to have the
opportunity to visit this years BTYoung Scientist and TechnologyExhibition in the RDS, and to meetwith participating schools from theDn Laoghaire-Rathdown area. Theexhibition, now in its 44th year, bringstogether students from all over thecountry to celebrate and advance thecontribution made by science andtechnology to our society.
Local schools were well representedat this years exhibition, and thediversity and ingenuity of the projectswas extremely impressive, witheverything from the science of bettingon football matches to preventingrear-end traffic collisions beingexamined.
Many of the projects concerned
environmental issues, and theenthusiasm and ability of the studentswas fantastic. I had last been at theexhibition two years ago and it wasnotable that many of the projects thistime round focussed on climatechange.
Congratulations to students fromColiste Iosagin, Oatlands College,Rathdown, St. Andrews, Sion Hill,Rosemont, St. Lawrences and LoretoFoxrock for their participation and
successes in the exhibition. It wasgreat to meet up with so many of youin the RDS!
www.btyoungscientist.ie
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 Councilfor 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 Partys core beliefs
that decision making take place at thelowest 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.
www.CiaranCuffe.com/writingsWeb
Action on BurmaBefore 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 thecountry. 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 Partys Foreign Affairs Spokesperson, and I am
trying to ensure that the Green Partys long-standing interest in peace and justice issues
continues.
www.BurmaActionIreland.orgWeb
Ciarn with Colaiste osagin students at the
Young Scientists Exhibition
Ciarn Cuffe TD, Dr Thaung Htun, Mary White TD and Burma Prime Minister-in-Exile Dr. Sein Win
at Leinster House
Directly Elected Mayorfor Dublin
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More Recycling for Dn LaoghaireGreen Party Environment Minister John Gormley has made available over 350,000
in funding to Dn 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 Dn Laoghaire Rathdown County
Council to provide new recycling facilities closer to where people live to make it
easier for them to recycle.
www.CiaranCuffe.com/WasteWeb
Recycling facilities on Killiney Hill
Your Green TeamBLACKROCK 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 forBlackrock, and Safe Routes
to school.
You can contact Nessa directly at
[email protected], M 086 818 6712, 14
Gledswood Avenue, Dublin 14
DN LAOGHAIRE WARD
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 Dn
Laoghaire and believes that the towns unique
heritage will secure its prosperity.
You can contact Gene directly at
[email protected], M 086 350 1198, 1
Eglinton Park, Dn 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
6717, 33 East Courtyard, Tullyvale,
Cherrywood, Cabinteely
Green Party Comhaontas GlasJustice, Foreign Affairs and Transport
Spokesperson96 Patrick Street (Over the Pet Shop)
Dn LaoghaireTel 284 6060, Fax. 618 4341Email: [email protected]
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