Membership / Involvement
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Bishopstown Community School |
1980 - early 1990
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The Bishopstown Community School, membership and chairperson on
the Board of the management.
These were hectic times of increasing numbers with
acute limited spaces to cater for the needs of the population. Many boys were
unable to find school places in the locality. They had to go to schools outside
the area at great inconvenience to parents and children alike.
It was a very
difficult job as a Councillor but an extremely rewarding one as a Board member
participating in the educational development of greater Bishopstown. |
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Cork City Enterprise Board, |
1996 |
The Cork City Enterprise Board, - from its inception to 1996. During this time the Enterprise Board had to change an Irish non-enterprising
culture to encourage Individuals to gain in confidence to embark on enterprising
projects.
Ireland to day in such a short period has emerged as an innovative
enterprising economy the envy of many a traditional industrial nations. |
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Progressive Democrat Party. |
1988 - |
Progressive Democrat Party
tried to break the mould of Irish politics [the FF / FG axis]. The first years
in the PD's were very exciting and policy driven. It brought me back to my youth
days of fiery debates on real issues. |
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New
Consensus Peace Group |
1988 |
1988 co-founded the New Consensus Peace Group.
It quickly grew into a non-party political group, intensely anti-IRA
"killing in our name theme" and promoting reconciliation during those
dark years.
Co-organised the first picket against Provisional SF at their
Ard Fheis in the Mansion House. Over the years the picket grew to the extent
that SF were banned from the Mansion House.
Co-led the first Peace Train with many Official SF supporters
from Cork to Belfast with a glorious march to Belfast City Hall. We met many
Alliance, SDLP, Unionists, and Democratic Unionists Public representatives.
We had to alight the train on our return and bus it from Portadown to Dundalk
because of a bomb on the line.
On another occasion having Senators David Norris and John
A Murphy sitting singing and composing poems together on the back seat of a
mini bus as we proceeded to Dungannon to meet Ken McGuinness and others, was
very memorable.
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Fine Gael |
1998 |
1960's Young FG
1979 Elected FG Councillor
1998, Fine Gael. - After 10 years I returned to Fine Gael and in
the election of 1999 as a Fine Gael candidate assisted in securing 2 seats
equaling FF
2 seats. Labour achieved one seat. |
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City Development Board |
2000 |
Member of the City Development Board - which adds a new dimension
to local democracy and public service facilitating local communities a real say in
the delivery of a full range of public services. |
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South West Regional Authority |
1999- |
Member of the South West Regional Authority over-seeing the region
and planning for its future. |
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Roads Transportation & safety Committee |
1999-2005 |
1999-2000 Chairperson of The Roads Transportation & safety Committee
Member for many years and its sub-groups on the Taxi/Hackney seeking the
introduction of wheelchair accessible taxies and Cycling Lanes provision
encouraging a healthy lifestyle and reduction on dependence on the car -
a project not yet taken root in Cork possibly because key cycleways are shared and not exclusive to cycles at
all times giving the cyclist a sense
of insecurity to date.
2004-2005 Chairperson of The Roads Transportation & safety Committee |
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Finance
Planning and General Purposes Committee |
Chairperson of the Finance Planning and General Purposes
Committee 2000-01 and member for many years. |
2000-2001 |
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City Development Plan
sub-committee |
1998 membership of the City Development Plan sub-committee drawing up the
1998-2002 City Development Plan, despite is very many meetings were extremely
worthwhile in understanding this crucial reserved function. |
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Amenity Recreational Cultural Strategic
Policy Committee. |
2001 - 2003 Chairperson of the Amenity Recreational Cultural Strategic
Policy Committee. |
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The Corporate Policy Group, |
2001 member of the
Corporate Policy Group, which acts as the
Estimates Committee this year. |
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Estimates Committee |
1995 - 2001- member of the
Estimates Committee. This was an invaluable learning experience in understanding this crucial
reserved function in framing and adapting Cork City's Councils Budget.
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Twinning Committee |
Member of the Twinning Committee
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Drinking on the Streets
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Member of the Sub-Group which brought in the Drinking on the Streets Bye-Laws
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Deputy Lord Mayor
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As Deputy Lord Mayor 00-01 -
Second official Deputy Lord Mayor. |