Eamon Gilmore – Local Issues – A New Neighbour
It’s been a busy few days starting with the Labour Party NEC on Saturday. There, the main business was discussion on Motions for the National Conference, recommendations regarding the 21st Century Labour Commission and the state of the economy and our response as a Party. What was palpable was the huge respect for Eamon Gilmore as Party Leader.
Also on Saturday there was a good crowd out delivering our Economic “Keeping in Touch” leaflet which I joined on Sunday where we had a team of eight people out with me and I also teams with Mary and Oisin.
Monday afternoon and we had a very packed Dublin City Council South East Area Committee meeting. Clearly (some) members are out actively canavassing as the agenda was crammed with motions and questions from most members. My own issues centred on two key Planning Applications in Donnybrook: one at the former Ever Ready site; and the other at the former Bizquip site/ car park (The Crescent), and the major scheme planned for the Marianella property in Rathgar. There were also a number of issues relating to stret cleaning in Ashfield road in Ranelagh and traffic issues across the ward.
As previously referred too I also secured agreement on the proposal to have a Public Information meeting for residents on general City council issues some time in April.
Monday night saw a very large gathering of Party members and possible new supporters for an event hosted by the Party Leader in the Stillorgan Park Hotel. Personally I saw non-party members from community groups from Donnybrook, Milltown, Ranelagh and Sandymount present and met many of them. The event was addressed by Proinsias De Rossa and Eamonn Gilmore and chaired by my cousin (ooops I have now let that slip!) Alex White.
On Tuesday night there was a packed Public meeting organized by the Sandymount and Merrion Residents Association (SAMRA) in the Mount Herbert Hotel. This was to discuss the Dublin Docklands plans for the Poolbeg Peninsuala. Many of us were quite shocked at the extent of the plans and it was agreed to seek a cross-party meeting with the Minister for the Environment to discuss stronger community input.
This afternoon I am the guest speaker at an Aontas Community Education Network meeting in St. Andrew’s Resource Centre and before that will be attending my daughter Sam’s school play at lunchtime.
Tonight I will be representing the Lord Mayor at the installation of the new Church of Ireland incumbent Rev David Gillespie to the Parish of St. Ann’s Church in Dawson Street. As a former resident of the street it is always good to meet a new neighbour.
Back soon!
