John Gormley

John Gormley’s speech to the Green Party convention has been posted on YouTube. Because of the 10-minute limit on video clips on YouTube, it has been split into two 7-minute sections.

Part 1:

Read the rest of this entry »

Dublin City Council has decided to grant permission to the revised plans for development at Sandymount Castle Park. As you may know, I joined residents in objecting to this development, primarily for reasons of traffic and pedestrian safety.

There are a number of conditions attached to this decision, and you can dowload a copy of the full decision from the link below:

Dublin City Council decision on planning application at Sandymount Castle Park (TIFF format)

Dublin City Council has decided to grant permission for the demolition of ‘Dunluce’, 21 Anglesea Road, to be replaced with a 5/6 storey apartment building, comprising 36 apartments.

There are a number of conditions attached to this decision, and a copy of the full decision can be downloaded from the link below.

Dublin City Council decision on planning application at 21 Anglesea Road (TIFF format)

Today the talk was of the convention. There was the usual post mortem over coffee. Eamon, Ciarán and I felt we had succeeded in getting out the message that the Greens are ready for government. However, over the next few weeks we need to be more focused. Right now, it has to be about the environment. Anything else is a distraction.

I won five euros from Trevor over the weekend. I predicted we’d be up in the Red C poll. He had his doubts. He was more than happy to be proved wrong. Eamon Ryan’s reaction to our bet: ‘Five euros! You miserable, tight bastards.’

Talk quickly turned to the rugby. By the way, there was a comment in one of the newspapers that the Greens left the bar in Galway after 20 minutes of the match. Not so. We went downstairs to watch it in the restaurant. It was fantastic stuff. Shane Horgan is easily Ireland’s most consistent player. Girvan Dempsey – solid and dependable – is our most under-rated player.

I remember watching D’Arcy playing for Lansdowne against Blackrock when he was about 19. He played full back that day and it was clear he had extraordinary talent. He seemed to disappear for a while after that. Some said he didn’t have the dedication. Well, he certainly does now. He’s world class.

Everyone agrees that his has been the best Green Party convention yet. The delegates are in great form and it seems we won’t have enough space in the hall this evening for Trevor’s speech.

This morning’s session could not have gone better. The time keeping and organisation were impeccable. All credit to Stiofán Nutty and his team.

The response to my own speech has been very positive from the party members. I just hope we can maintain this momentum.

You can keep up to date on the Convention as it happens on the Green Party’s Convention Blog.

John Gormley TD gave his Cathaoirleach’s address to the Green Party/Comhaontas Glas National Convention in Galway on Saturday 24th February 2006.

Listen to an audio recording of the speech.

The full text of the speech is available below. Read the rest of this entry »

Below are edited extracts from the debate on the proposed Poolbeg incinerator in the Dáil on Thursday February 22nd. The full debate is available on the Oireachtas web site.

Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the Government’s position on incineration and, in particular, the proposed incinerator for the Poolbeg peninsula; the status of the procurement process; if, in his view, Dublin City Council can proceed with the incinerator, which up until now has been supported by the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. Read the rest of this entry »

– Not the first time electioneering PDs have predicted incinerator’s demise

Green Party Chairman John Gormley TD has called on the Tánaiste Michael McDowell to clarify the source of his claim that the plans for an incinerator at Poolbeg in Dublin have been abandoned. The Tánaiste’s comments in today’s Evening Herald have caused considerable confusion as Dublin City Council maintains that the project remains on track.

Deputy Gormley said: “Michael McDowell owes it to the local community to clarify where he is getting the information that allows him to confidently announce the collapse of this project, even though as far as Dublin City Council is concerned it’s all systems go,” said Deputy Gormley.

“It’s worth remembering that this is not the first time that the PDs have predicted the demise of the incinerator. In May 2005 Cllr Wendy Hederman released a statement entitled ‘City Council Blocks Incinerator’, and in July 2005 Michael McDowell told the Southside People newspaper that the incinerator would not go ahead ‘as planned.’

“It is irresponsible of Michael McDowell to give local people false hope. He needs to be challenged immediately by the media to back up his statements. His latest statement is a panic reaction to voter hostility on this issue in the forthcoming election.”

– McDowell’s ‘victory for local democracy’ statement is utterly hypocritical

Green Party Chairman John Gormley TD welcomed the collapse of the Government’s plans today to build a massive incinerator in Poolbeg in Dublin. The TD for Dublin South East, who has opposed the incinerator since the outset, said the Government parties had tried to force through the project against the wishes of the local community.

“This is great news for local residents who have campaigned vigorously, alongside the Green Party, on this issue. On two occasions the Green Party has used its private members time in Dáil Éireann to force a vote on the hugely unwelcome incinerator. On both occasions the PDs and Fianna Fail voted down our motions, which would have prevented this project from going ahead.

“We hope now that the proposal is dead in the water, and that it will not be resurrected after the election. Opinion polls in the area have indicated very clearly that the Government parties are suffering as a result of their support for the proposed incinerator.

“One has to ask the question, as to how this information was leaked to Michael McDowell, the Tánaiste. It was, after all, McDowell who stated that the current proposal would not be taken under fast-track legislation but rather under the existing legislation. Enquires from this office showed that no official representation had been made on this matter, but was rather pursued on a nod and a wink basis.

“Our genuine fear is that this politically sensitive issue will be shelved very conveniently until after the election and then fast-tracked. The Green Party will continue to be vigilant on this issue,” concluded Deputy Gormley.

“From information just received, it would now appear that neither Bord Pleanála nor Dublin City Council were in the loop in relation to this decision. The fact that Minister McDowell has made this announcement would suggest that this is a Government decision which, under the circumstances, must be viewed with a degree of scepticism.

“Michael McDowell’s statement that this is a victory for local democracy is utterly hypocritical, given that this Government removed from councillors the power to make a waste management plan for Dublin city. Again we repeat our concern that this is motivated by political considerations and poor opinion poll ratings in Dublin South East for Government parties and in particular the Tánaiste, and that a U-Turn on the issue is possible after the election, if the PDs and Fianna Fail get back in.

I have added some new video clips covering issues such as the Incinerator, the Wastewater Treatement Plant, and Post Office closures. Please check out the video category for more.