Taoiseach should recall Dáil to debate
future direction of Laffoy Commission

Green Party Education Spokesperson, Paul Gogarty TD, has called on the Taoiseach to recall the Dáil to debate the future direction of the Laffoy Commission. The call comes in the wake of Ms. Justice Laffoy's resignation and Minister Dempsey's earlier announcement of a review.

"The whole process has been thrown into disarray, first by Minister Noel Dempsey's statement and then by the resignation announcement by Justice Laffoy. It has been known for some time that the Laffoy Commission was not able to work effectively for a number of reasons. Now these latest events have brought the issue to a head."

"For the sake of the victims we need to look at new terms of reference that get to the bottom of the events that took place and which do not facilitate the same level of legal challenge. Groups such as Irish Survivors Of Child Abuse, One in
Four, Right of Place and Aislinn need to be consulted about such mechanisms. The Department of Education also needs to be more forthcoming with documentation if any revamped commission is to work effectively."

"We need to debate the issues openly and honestly in the Dáil. Then, various groups should be asked to attend the Education and Science Committee to outline publicly their stated preferences for a new improved Commission. The victims of abuse need to have their voices heard and be certain that any new terms of reference will allow the Commission to investigate the issues thoroughly without being constantly subjected to legal challenge by Church bodies and receiving
half-hearted responses from the Department of Education."

back to top

Adamstown decision a major blow to sustainable development in Lucan

Dublin Mid West Green Party TD Paul Gogarty has described the granting of permission for the Adamstown Strategic Development Zone without strict controls as a major blow for sustainable development in Lucan.

"This decision will place huge hardship on the people of Lucan, in terms of extra traffic, extra pressure on schools, as well as major disruption while Adamstown is being built. It is not sustainable, even with the addition of extra conditions, most of which are to be welcomed. They could have made a good plan, but either An Bord Pleanala or the Planning laws have failed the local community in this instance."

The additional conditions include some operational capacity for rail, new footpaths and road improvements. "These are too little, too late". What about bus operational capacity, school operational capacity, and most importantly, what about an Environmental Impact Statement?"

Green Party Councillor Fintan McCarthy has expressed his dismay with the decision of An Bord Pleanala to allow the Adamstown SDZ Scheme go ahead without an Environmental Impact Study being undertaken of the entire area. "This is the largest and most ambitious housing project ever undertaken in the history of thestate. An EIS is not being undertaken for a plan of over 10,000 houses, despitethe fact that any ordinary development of 500 houses would automatically requireone. Even a child could see the need for caution when building a larger than normal sandcastle. Inexplicably An Bord Pleanala have not exercised that sameprudence."

Cllr. McCarty said that the "Improvements planned for the M50 and N4 shouldform a fundamental part of the Adamstown plan, this would be at variance withtheir prior advice to members of the council". "If the development is allowed to
proceed without these guarantees the west side of Dublin city will grind to ahalt. When the developers have long gone the residents, and by extension thetaxpayer, will be left to pick up the tab."

Deputy Gogarty said that the Green Party is raising the issue of the lack of anyEnvironment Impact Statement with the European Commission. However the localrepresentatives acknowledge that the decision is likely to be a fait accompli.
"The real battle is now with the Departments of Education and Transport andothers to ensure that funding is provided to lessen the negative impact of theAdamstown development," concluded Mr. Gogarty.

back to top