In light of the ongoing problems with the JC Decaux Metropoles, I’ve submitted an Emergency Motion to next Monday’s meeting of Dublin City Council.

Emergency Motion for City Council meeting 1st September:
“In view of the very serious concerns expressed about the location of and insurance issues involved as well as the real questions that are being [...]

Like many political people, I’ve been watching the Democratic Convention in the US closely.  Bill Clinton’s speech last night was fantastic.  Whatever you think of him, he can definitely hold a crowd.

I’ll be watching Barack Obama’s speech tonight (well, tomorrow morning).  It’s set to be a great one.
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Dermot received some glowing praise in today’s Irish Times.
Thu, Aug 28, 2008
Given that much building work is now concentrated on home extensions, its hardly surprising that one-time architect Ruairí Quinn TD has joined with Labour councillor Dermot Lacey to deliver – to every home in their constituencies – what is grandly called Dermot Laceys Planning [...]

There is no doubt that children do better in smaller classes and in schools that are well built and well
equipped. However, the facts are:

• 800 schools rely to some extent on temporary buildings
• 40,000 children at least are being taught in prefabs
• One in four children are in classes of 30 or more.

Our children deserve [...]

My Labour Party colleague Senator Dominic Hannigan has been working as a volunteer with the VSO in Mongolia for the past couple of weeks.
I highly recommend taking a look at his blog posts, which have been a really interesting diary of his time there.  Well worth taking 20 minutes to read.
Update:
Dominic’s just posted about his [...]

The Editor, The Sunday Tribune (published 24th August 2008)
Sir,
I am loth to correct a rare and seemingly unimportant detail in your esteemed newspaper. However, on this occasion I seek your indulgence.
The report, last Sunday, that I, along with some City Council colleagues, travelled overseas to Baltimore has the possibility of causing serious disagreement with my [...]

The Editor
The Sunday Tribune (published 17th August 2008)
The report (News, 10 August) outlining the problems caused by the illogical division of constituencies highlighted problems in Swords. Unfortunately Swords is not alone. The recent announcement of boundaries for the new local government electoral areas offers many more bewildering situations. Given the stated role of local government, [...]

Following the recent success in the US and British Open Golf Championships of Padraig Harrington I have joined with many others in supporting the awarding to him of our highest honour the Freedom of the City of Dublin.
Some years ago Padraig was given a Lord Mayor’s Award and I believe that the City Council should [...]

The Editor, The Irish Times
Madam, – For the first 10 days of August I had the honour to be in the company of over 10,000 of the finest young people this country has ever known, who were attending the International Scout Jamboree in Punchestown. Their spirit, decency, enthusiasm, co-operation and mutual respect during some appalling [...]

The Sunday Times is covering the ongoing story about JC Decaux’s Metropoles today, and includes a quote from Dermot in their story:
Ian Lumley of An Taisce, said: “It is bizarre that the local authority may be carrying the can of legal responsibility for units belonging to a private developer.”
Lumley’s criticism is echoed by former Lord [...]