Please Vote No on Oct 4th 2013

By asking people to Vote YES, on October 4th,  Fine Gael, Labour and Sinn Fein are asking for people to go far beyond abolition of the Seanad.

By asking people to vote YES the Government are asking the Irish people to do two things:
1. abolish the Seanad.
2. remove all reference to the Seanad from the constitution.

One such reference is contained within Article 27 which mentions “both Houses of the Oireachtas”. Article 27 is entitled “Reference of Bills to the People”. It gives power to the people of Ireland to express their views on a piece of legislation which contains “a proposal of such national importance that the will of the people thereon ought to be ascertained.”

So rather than propose an amendment to this Article, the Government would have us remove an Article of fundamental importance in its totality.

This is clearly an attempt to grab power not from other parts of the Oireachtas but from the people. Article 27 and article 47.2, which the Government is also seeking to delete, invest in the people real power to veto legislation that contains proposals of national importance.

In Government Fine Gael has demonstrated absolute intolerance of any criticism. They have craftily manipulated and maneuvered and when all else failed expelled all dissenting voices.

Their disdain for democracy does not deserve to be rewarded with greater dictatorial powers. Sinn Fein’s collusion with Fine Gael on this issue is motivated entirely by their ambition for dictatorial type powers if they get into government in the future.

We should demand real reform. Please Vote No on October 4th 2013.

Mary

All-Ireland Final in Smithfield

I'm very pleased that Dublin City Council is providing a big screen at Smithfield Public Plaza, Smithfield, Dublin 7 for the public to enjoy this year’s All-Ireland Football Final.  Fans can enjoy pre-match entertainment from 1.15pm on Sunday before watching the game live on an RTE feed with full match commentary on the 48m2 screenfrom 3.30pm. A big thanks goes to the local residents, businesses, An Garda Síochána and transport providers without whose help this event would not be possible.The Smithfield event is free, family-friendly and alcohol-free. Fans will be able to purchase food from food stalls.  Dublin City Council is also asking people to use public transport to come to the city on the day, whether they are going to Croke Park or Smithfield. Dublin Bus and Luas will both be operating full services on the day. There is no special parking for the Smithfield event.
Mary

Culture Night

Today, Friday 20th September, Dublin City’s streets and cultural venues will be bustling again this year for Culture Night 2013 from 5pm until late.  There are lots of things to do both locally and throughout the Dublin City.  For a full list of things happening and places to see click here.  Some of Dublin City Council's offering for Culture Night include Dublin’s Mansion House, Dawson Street, Dublin 2, and Dublin’s City Hall, Dame Street, Dublin 2, is open between 5 and 10pm offering its visitors music courtesy of the Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann and an new exhibition and show “Bare Feet and Bowler Hats”, capturing the Dublin of 1913 and presented by Liberties Heritage Association. The City Council Chamber and the permanent exhibition “The Story of the Capital” a multimedia exhibition tracing the history of the foundations of Dublin from Viking and Norman times until today, are also options for discerning visitors.  

Dublin City Council Arts Office, The LAB, Foley Street, Dublin 1 are presenting “Nine” an exhibition which aims to act as a point of discussion about what it means to grow up as a child in Ireland in the 21st century. The Lab is open between 5 and 10pm and it is focusing on activities for children and young adults which include creative print and model making workshops, also music and dance performances to name but a few.
Dublin City Gallery, The Hugh Lane, Parnell Square North, will host an exciting night for all ages including art exhibitions, workshops and artists talks, drawing stations and tours of the building and the collections. Live music, film screenings and tai chi are also activities organised for the evening.
Try to use public transport and enjoy the evening !  Mary

Drumcondra & Glasnevin Local Policing Forum

As chair of the Dublin Central Joint Policing Committee I work with the Gardai, Dublin City Council and the local community to fight crime in our area. Since the closure of Whitehall Garda Station the Gardai operate a weekly clinic in Corpus Christi. Gardai and Dublin City Council attend the Drumcondra Glasnevin local policing forum that was established as part of the roll-out of local forums in Dublin Central under my chairpersonship. The next meeting of the Drumcondra Glasnevin Forum will take place in The Maples Hotel on Wednesday October 2nd @ 7.30pm. Anyone living in the area is invited to attend the forum to address issues of concern with the Gardai, Dublin City Council and your elected representatives.

Directly Elected Mayor

Earlier this year the Minister for the Environment published the governments’ plan for local Government, “putting people first”, which includes the proposal to ask the people of Dublin to vote in May 2014 for or against the introduction of a Directly Elected Mayor. 

The Lord Mayors, on behalf of the City and County Councillors of the four Dublin local authorities, are launching a public consultation today that invites the general public to have their say on the proposal for a Directly Elected Mayor for Dublin. I welcome the public consultation and encourage all Dubliners to have their say on this issue. 

The public consultation begins on Monday 16th of September 2013 and the closing date for making a submission is on or before Saturday, 12th October, 2013. Members of the general public can make a submission on-line at www.mayor4dublin.ie or make a written submission at their Local Library or City Council Office. The survey asks if people want to have a Directly Elected Mayor for Dublin and if so what kind of powers they think the Mayor should have.  

For Dublin to compete in the global market for jobs, investment and tourism we need strong local government and strong local political leadership. Having lived in New York City for many years I know first hand how cities can really benefit from strong and effective local government.  

A directly elected Mayor for Dublin could provide strong leadership on important issues for the greater Dublin area but if introduced without real reform of the current local authorities it will be nothing more than a government puppet. 

Unfortunately this Governments proposals for Local Government reform are shaping up to be a real missed opportunity for Dublin. 

This public consultation process is a great opportunity for the people of Dublin to demand strong and effective local government for the capital city and to reject the Governments crazy plan to increase the number of Councillors in Dublin from 131 to 183. Already Dublin has too many Councillors. Currently in the four local authorities there are 131 Councillors representing a population of approximately 1.3m. New York City with a population of more than 8million people has 51 City Councillors and a highly effective local government.  

I look forward to the results of the public consultation, hopefully this will not turn out to be just another empty PR exercise and the Government will actually take on board feedback from the people of Dublin .    Mary