It is extraordinary, indeed somewhat surreal, that once again we are having a debate on the introduction of a Property Tax/Council Charge in the absence of virtually any contribution from those who actually work within the local government sector and who try to make a dysfunctional system work at all. Instead we have had myriad [...]

This article first appeared in the Sunday Times’ “Think Tank for the 21st Century” on May 27th 2012. “Let us choose our own Mayor” asked Justine Mc Carthy, Sunday Times 8th May. I agree. For Ireland’s sake, Dublin needs to run Dublin. The present situation in which an array of Quangos, unaccountable State Bodies and [...]

This article was published in the Irish Independent‘s Weekender magazine on March 31st, 2012. What do Tony Benn, Tony Blair, The Edge, David McCullagh, Paul McCartney, Richard Branson, Bill Gates, virtually every American President since the early 1900′sand most of the NASA Astronauts who walked on the Moon, have in common – among other things, they were [...]

Speech delivered to Conference on Local Government Efficiency Review Report Wexford. 1st October 2010 “In considering the contents of this Report you have to first of all consider where it emanated from, what was its purpose and who compiled the Final Report. On all three fronts I believe that Local Government and therefore the ordinary [...]

“I am glad to be here at what is an important occasion for Family Support Network. Clearly this is a difficult time for all us involved in the response to the Drugs crisis. That is as true for those of us on the Task Force as it is for community groups and people such as [...]

The famous Eamon Gilmore video, which was shown at the Labour Party Conference on Saturday, and has received quite a bit of comment in various places, is now online. You can see it here. fastswfembed(“http://www.youtube.com/v/xXFcMyPMcf8&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0″,480,295,’343-0′);

Speech delivered to Citizens and Governance Conference at Dublin Castle, 25th February 2009 I welcome this opportunity to debate with a lot of like minded citizens on the future of our City. I say like minded, not because we all share the same views on how the system works – or should work. Like minded [...]

The Real Case for Local Government Reform in Ireland Speech to the Local Authority Members’ Association I welcome this opportunity to engage with my fellow Councillors on a topic that is dear to my heart and to which I am absolutely committed. I want to thank LAMA for their invitation. However I would be dishonest [...]

Article published in The Irish Catholic Ronan Mullen is correct. There I have said it. Yes, this Dublin 4 Liberal agrees with Ronan Mullen ( The Irish Catholic 3rd January)  when in the course of a recent Seanad debate he said that “Communities must solve drugs problem” and that “we have to acknowledge that there [...]

Article published in Materials Recycling Weekly (UK) The decision by An Bord Pleanala to grant permission for the development of an Incinerator at Poolbeg flew in the face of all the evidence given at the Oral Hearing and of all logic. Disgracefully it showed contempt for the interests of the local community and sadly it [...]