John Gormley

Green Party Chairman launches campaign in Dublin South East

Green Party Chairman John Gormley TD today launched his general election campaign in Dublin South East with a plea to party activists and voters to ensure that Fianna Fáil and the PDs are ousted from government.

“I know from speaking to delegates at our Convention last weekend that they want Fianna Fáil and the PDs out of government,” said Deputy Gormley. “There is an unquenchable thirst for change in the party.

“Bertie Ahern can’t quite decide whether he’s St Paul or St Augustine. Last year we had his Pauline conversion to socialism, but when it comes to the environment it’s a case of ‘make me green, but not yet Lord’.

“All his plans for the future are in the future. Yes, he’s going to tax SUVs – but after the election. He’s going to introduce smart metering – after the election. At least Bertie now knows what smart metering is. He has the lingo now. He can just about talk the talk. But where’s the action?

“At the last election Fianna Fáil said they had a lot done, but more to do. In relation to the environment they have nothing done and a hell of a lot to do. Look at Dick Roche’s attitude to the higher insulation standards agreed by Dun Laoghaire Rathdown council. Look at the poor recycling facilities in Dublin South East. Then there’s the problem of the sewage treatment plant, the litter in the canal and the proposed incinerator, which Minister McDowell falsely claimed had collapsed. Look at the failure to deal with graffiti and the poor bus services.”

– McDowell’s party has more failures than successes to reflect on

The Green Party today ridiculed the Progressive Democrats’ claim that it has delivered on its election promises and highlighted some of PDs’ more serious failures in its ten years in Government.

Speaking on the eve of the PDs’ national conference, Green Party Chairman John Gormley TD said: “Not only have the PDs failed to deliver on their promises, they have managed to deliver on things which they did not promise, such as the privatisation of the health service. They have absolutely no mandate for this ill-conceived proposal.

“The major plank of the Progressive Democrats’ campaign at the first election was that a single party government was undesirable and they would keep an eye on Fianna Fáil. The PDs have not only kept an eye on them – they are now indistinguishable from the bigger party. Who would have thought that Michael McDowell would seek the end of tribunals investigating corruption? The last five years have been particularly damaging for the PDs and it is unlikely that they can recover at this stage.”

The Green Party has identified the following promises made by the PDs, which have not been delivered on: (more…)

Green Party Chairman and TD for Dublin South East John Gormley has called for the proposed bridge over the River Dodder at Ringsend to only be built as part of a scheme to extend the Luas to Ringsend and Poolbeg. Dublin City Council has advertised for consultants to design a road bridge which would be restricted to public transport.

Deputy Gormley said: “Restricting traffic across this new bridge to public transport, cyclists and pedestrians is a positive move, but it does not go far enough. The only long-term public transport solution for this area is to link with the light rail network, and this bridge should only be put in place as part of such an extension. The Green Party has made proposals to the Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) which would allow for the Luas extension to the Point Depot to be extended to the south side of the Liffey. (more…)

145. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Transport if he will report on exercise Eagle at Shannon Airport on 25 April 2006, which tested the effectiveness of the emergency services if a passenger aircraft with a cargo of chemicals crashed at Shannon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22012/06] (more…)

 95. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Transport the measures he intends taking to improve safety conditions for cycling in view of the recent death of two cyclists in Dublin city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21892/06] (more…)

This morning I attended the Star of the Sea Boys National School, Sandymount, Science and Engineering Display. The boys had put a lot of work into the project. All credit to them, Una Condon, the principal, and the teachers. Afterwards I chatted to the teachers in the tea-room about the state of the electoral register.

On Saturday last (6th May) I met Felipe Arreaga Sanchez and Patricia Cervantes at a meeting organised by Amnesty International at the Dublin Food Co-op. I promised to raise their issues in the Dáil.

Yesterday (7th May) I met Kevin Humphreys in the morning in Ringsend Park to discuss Dublin City Council proposals for the redevelopment of the park. I took the afternoon off; went to Dalkey for a walk; took the kids for a swim in Marion pool at around 5.

Back to today. I issued 2 releases one in relation to the new ‘green’ ministerial cars, the other on Michael McDowell’s anti-inicineration leaflet. I spoke to Ruairi Quinn about the latter at lunch time. We both agree that Michael Mc has a brass neck. Do some people actually fall for this guff? The government - he’s a member of it - gave the go-ahead for a public-private partnership for a mass burn incinerator on the Poolbeg peninsula before Christmas. He now says he’s opposed to it, as he did at election time. His leaflet is full of typos and misinformation. I will respond. This sort of cute hoor politics gets my goat.

I spent this afternoon dealing with housing cases.

In relation to the new green ministerial transport, Dick Roche and Noel Dempsey are now in the same league as David Cameron - having their cake and greening it. Cameron is poser. He cycles to work but has his minions transport his clothes and papers to Westminister in a car. Were are the CO₂ savings there?

 70. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Transport the public transport operators that are ready to facilitate the introduction of integrated ticketing in the Dublin area; the reason for the delay in operationality in the outstanding carriers; and the expected timeframe for completion. [16283/06] (more…)

136. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Transport the steps he has taken to introduce initial compulsory training for motorcyclists; and if motorcyclists with provisional licenses will be required to display L-plates. [16284/06]
 
   Minister for Transport (Mr. Cullen): A working group, including motorcycle interests has been considering the appropriate standards that will apply to compulsory initial practical training for motorcyclists.  Overseeing the introduction of such training will be the responsibility of the proposed Road Safety Authority.  It is also my intention that a requirement that motorcyclists with provisional licences must display L-plates will be introduced.
  The necessary regulatory provisions are currently under consideration having regard to the need for amendments to the Road Traffic Acts and a recent Supreme Court decision which found that primary legislation underpinning regulations to transpose EU Directives must, notwithstanding any powers already contained in the legislation, contain a power to make regulations for the purpose of transposing EU Directives.

 115. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Transport when a decision will be made on the application for funding made by Dublin Bus for the purchase of 200 new vehicles to serve the new bus corridors; when such buses would be delivered; and the multiannual funding support package available from the Government to support the purchase of new buses by Dublin Bus. [9210/06] (more…)

 70. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Transport his views on the safety implications of the increased amount of heavy goods vehicles on roads here; and if the Government will reconsider its strategy of allowing the long-term gradual closure of rail freight infrastructure which has encouraged further freight traffic on to roads here. [9209/06] (more…)