Selective Hearing From Sinn Fein - deliberate misquoting on their latest treaty leaflet.

Sinn Fein’s anti-Treaty leaflet quotes three economists (Karl Whelan, Colm McCarthy and Seamus Coffey) to bolster advocating a No vote. 

All three are in favour of the Treaty.

KARL WHELAN QUOTE

From the Sinn Fein leaflet:

 “…the economics of this treaty are pretty terrible…”

KARL WHELAN, PROFESSOR OF ECONOMICS, UCD

What they don’t quote is that he went on to say:

 “On balance, the arguments favour Ireland signing up to it.”

COLM MCCARTHY QUOTE

From the Sinn Fein leaflet:

“As an exercise in addressing the Eurozone’s twin banking and sovereign debt crises, the fiscal compact makes no worthwhile contribution.”

COLM MCCARTHY, SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS, UCD

What they  don’t quote:

Articles written by Colm McCarthy in recent weeks advocating a Yes vote include the following:

“Voting No is a leap in the dark that we can't afford”,

Colm McCarthy, 1 April 2012. Irish Independent article –headline.

“A Yes vote is the correct response, unavoidable and in the country's best interests”

Colm McCarthy, 18 February 2012, Irish Independent article -headline.

SEAMUS COFFEY QUOTE

From the Sinn Fein leaflet:

“Had the fiscal compact been in place since 1999 it could not and would not have prevented the crisis in Ireland.”

SEAMUS COFFEY, SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS, UCC

What they don’t quote:

 “All in all there is little to be gained from rejecting the Treaty.”

Seamus Coffey , on his blog, on 15 March 2012,

Heavy Rainfall Forecast from Met Eireann and City Council Response

MET Eireann issued a rain advisory (not a severe weather alert) yesterday for the period from midnight on Wednesday 25^th April 2012 to 12 noon on Thursday 26^th April 2012.

This has been assessed by the City Council’s Emergency Management Team and following discussions with MET Eireann’s Forecast Division the latest forecasts for Dublin as forecast by MET Eireann is for 12-15mm of rain over this period and other international forecasts are suggesting 15-20mm of rain in this period.   

The risk of Pluvial flooding from thunderstorm activity is possible but it is not possible to predict in advance the time, location or severity of any such thunderstorm activity.

Areas at potential risk are:

·         Areas previously affected by flooding.

·         Basements.

·         Local Low lying areas.

Below is an update on the actions being taken by Dublin City Council in advance of the anticipated heavy rain due on Wednesday and Thursday next:

1.        Drainage Division are monitoring the weather and are in close contact with MET Éireann.

2.       Drainage Division are visiting and inspecting all river screens to ensure Drainage system can operate to         maximum efficiency.

3.       Waste Management Services staff, who operate o near continuous 24 hour city wide service, have been requested to take action as needed to also respond to any local flooding.

4.       The Traffic Control Centre are using the extensive CCTV system to identify any city wide problems.

5.      The Roads Department are also monitoring the network to mobilise as required.

6.       Dublin Fire Brigade are on hand to respond to requests for service.

7.       Additional Drainage staff are on standby should they be required.

8.       Since the location or timing of any flooding cannot be predicted in advance by MET Éireann putting the community on alert is the most effective response.

General guidance on how to reduce flood risk is contained in guidance booklets produced by Office of Public Works is available on www.opw.ie  and is also on the City Council’s website. www.dublincity.ie

Applications Open for More Choice Based Letting Homes

John with Councillor John Redmond, who was instrumental in getting the Choice Based Lettings Scheme established

The Choice Based Lettings scheme is a pilot programme for the Finglas area that anyone on the housing list can apply for. 

Dublin City Council have announced today that three more houses will now be offered to people on the housing list under the scheme

These houses are in Kippure Park, Fairlawn Road and Cloonlara Road. 

Applications can be made to the Finglas Area Office directly up until Friday 4th May 2012. 

For more information on the houses themselves or on how to apply visit this section of the Dublin City Council website. 

If you have any other questions on the scheme, or your housing situation in general, please contact me on 01 618 3280 or john.lyons@oir.ie

Funding Approved for Traffic Lights on St Margaret's Road (R104)

I welcome the announcement today that €75,000 in funding has been given by the National Transport Authority for traffic lights and other road safety improvements at the junction of the (R104) St. Margaret’s Road and the Jamestown Road.

The issue of speeding on this stretch of road from the Charlestown Shopping Centre to Ikea is well known to local residents and it has resulted in some serious accidents in recent months. 

This is why before Christmas I asked Fingal County Council to carry out a speed survey of cars on the road and assess any extra safety measures needed.

The speed survey report recommended a number of improvements including putting in traffic lights and pedestrian crossing points at the junction of the R104 St. Margaret’s Road and the Jamestown Road.

Fingal County Council then applied to the National Transport Authority to fund the works and I wrote in support of this application as well as raising it with the Minister of State with special responsibility for Public and Commuter Transport.

Thankfully this funding has now been approved and it will allow these works to being in the very near future to benefit residents in the Charlestown, Meakstown and Hampton Wood areas.

This funding comes as part of €11.7 million in transport funding for the Greater Dublin area in which Fingal will benefit from projects worth €1.4 million and Dublin City Council will benefit from €4.1 million of funding. The funding to the City Council includes €2 million for road surfacing improvements while will be welcomed by motorists across the city.

I will be following up this announcement with Fingal County Council and Dublin City Council to ensure these projects are started as quickly as possible.

If you would like more information on these plans or if you have concerns about other roads or junctions in the area, please call me on 01 618 3280 or email john.lyons@oir.ie 

Lanesborough Community Day - Saturday 21st April

There are two community events taking place this Saturday 21st April in Lanesborough Park.


Lanesborough Park Clean Up Day


The first is a Park Clean Up Day from 10.30am to 12.30pm. The last clean up day was a huge success so please come along if you would like to lend a hand. Bags, gloves and litter pickers will be provided on the morning by the Council and Community Gardaí will also be coming along if you would like to discuss any issues or concerns with them.

Meakstown Community Games


The clean up will be followed by the Meakstown Community Games, with organised games of soccer and rounders beginning at 1pm for local children.

The local Community Games volunteer committee has been working hard to get the games off the ground and the local games in the park will lead to a Meakstown Team in each sport to represent the area in Dublin and maybe national finals.

The games are open to all children and families in the area and pre-registration is advised. You can register bu contacting the games organiser Neil Dowling on meakstowncg@gmail.com or give me a call on 01 618 3280.

For more information on both the Park Clean Up Day and the Community Games events, please see my latest local leaflet below:

Open publication - Free publishing - More charlestown

Latest Leaflet - Working Hard To Keep People in their Homes

Open publication - Free publishing - More arrears