Our political parties are at it again. They can't seem to stop. They are rezoning land in areas where the County Manager has already strongly opposed it and as usual FF councillors are at the forefront with FG very close behind. You would think that something might change after FF has led this country to economic ruin and has saddled everyone with debt that has nothing to do with them, restarted emigration and condemned the young, old and sick to cutbacks and poverty for an indefinite period with no end in sight. It all just goes to show the huge democratic deficit in this country and the fact that these self-serving political parties and their developer friends don't give a damn about anyone, the environment or our common future. And so we feel it is important to featurize this local but important story below.

Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown councillors are to vote on a murky rezoning project near Tibradden in the Dublin Mountains on December 10th, which breaches the county development plan and national policy, as well as policy on siting of facilities for older people. Most crucially it breaches the current limits of the no-building areas in the Dublin / Wicklow Mountains, which are a vital amenity for the whole community.

To date a majority of local councillors have been in favour, against the advice of the planners and even the County Manager - but have not explained their reasons for voting yes to this development. It will create a "retirement village" cut off from library, churches and other community contacts: perhaps isolation facility would be a better term. Despite all the scandals, it seems to be "business at usual" over at DL-Rathdown...

Location of so-called retirement village

Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown councillors are to vote on a murky rezoning project near Tibradden in the Dublin Mountains on December 10th, which breaches the county development plan and national policy, as well as policy on siting of facilities for older people. Most crucially it breaches the current limits of the no-building areas in the Dublin / Wicklow Mountains, which are a vital amenity for the whole community.

To date a majority of local councillors have been in favour, against the advice of the planners and even the County Manager - but have not explained their reasons for voting yes to this development. It will create a "retirement village" cut off from library, churches and other community contacts: perhaps isolation facility would be a better term. Despite all the scandals, it seems to be "business at usual" over at DL-Rathdown...

Related Links: Irish Times - Feeding frenzy at the speculator's trough' not a hidden secret | Indo - Councillors defend vote to rezone land at centre of corruption trial | Finfacts.ie - Irish Planning Corruption Tribunal 1997-2007: Land Rezoning Reform since 1997 - ZERO Demolishing' Ghost Estates, a sign of worrying times ahead | Gleann Riada Action Group -Yet Another Housing Estate Scandal | An Taisce calls on Martin Cullen to explain his role in delivering access to Jackson Way lands | Corruption Watch at Tara - Lets do some digging of our own

Related Links:
OccupyDameStreet - Facebook Page | Occupy Dame Street - Wikipedia | OccupyGalway Website | Occupy Galway requested to leave Eyre Square | Councillor P.Coneely's "thoughts" on Occupy Galway (audio) | #OccupyIreland, 6 camps and building... Dublin, Cork, Galway, Belfast, Waterford...Letterkenny.. | #occupydamestreet statement marking 100 days of occupation

Unlock NAMA

Today's occupation is happening at 66-67 Great Strand Street, Dublin 1. Come down and support the occupation - get involved in the debate during the day.
You might be thinking: has the notoriously secretive agency finally read the part of the NAMA legislation that says NAMA should contribute to the social development of the State? Or wondering if perhaps the Labour party is coming good on its pre-election promise to use NAMA buildings for culture and the arts? Maybe the accountants and property hacks that sit on NAMA’s board have recognised that the N and the A stand for national assets?

What’s really happening is the launch of new campaign group Unlock NAMA.

Related Links: Map to the Great Grand Street site | Unlock NAMA website (www.unlockNAMA.org) | Unlock NAMA facebook page | Politico.ie story | Photo's of the occupation on Come Here to Me
Indy Links: Welcome to NAMAland | NAMA: An activists guide | NAMA Board Gets a Pay Increase | NAMA = Class Robbery = Capitalism At Work NAMA Key Data for Tranche 1 and 2 Loans

nama_wasting_this_building.jpg 0.02 Mb Signs of neglect of building by NAMA even though they are supposed to make these buildings available for social development of the state 0.03 Mb

Queen is greeted by President Mary McAleese

As Elizabeth Windsor's visit moves into history it is time to analyse the reasons for the visit and what happened during it: the small protests, the massive restrictions on movement in Ireland's capital city, the huge violations of the right to protest,

Related Links: Protests Greet the British Queen in Cork – Report & Photo Essay | Republican Response to English queen | Citizen's Rights Suspended Because of Queen's Visit | AUDIOLINK-"Opposing theBritish Queen's Visit to Ireland"- Radio Interview with 4 Anti-War Activists | Lockdown for Queen's Visit | James Connolly, Monarchy & Labour Party Hypocrisy

Queen greets crowds in Cork 0.13 Mb

CACI - Providing Software for the Irish Cencus
(and lots of other "defence software")

The people of Ireland should consider a Boycott in relation the upcoming Census in April 2011. The reason I say this is that the company contracted to carry out the Census is CACI UK who are a subsidiary of CACI international which through its various outsourcing has been accused of contributing to the torture of prisoners in Abu Ghraib in Iraq, something I myself am not happy about, and it will be one of the reason's why I will not be completing the Census form this time.

Related Links:
CACI's website
Graphic Video Displaying CACI Crimes (Irish Census Contractors)
Cencus Alerts - UK
This Lockheed Martin contract tarnishes the census - from The Guardian
Lockheed Martin Awarded £150M Contract to Support 2011 Census for England and Wales, and Northern Ireland

Apologies the related links are to stories about the English census (and Lockheed Martin), but the Irish media seem to have missed the relevance of CACI in getting the contract to develop the software for the Irish cencus