An Bord Pleanála blocks Mansfiled’s convention centre
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Originally posted by anto
4> We work With MBNA
????????The central objectionlevelled at An Taisce by the questioner was that ‘An Taisce was anti-Leitrim’ by submitting ‘an objection’ to MBNA’s initial planning application.
This was clarrified to be a situation where An Taisce had objected to the original traffic manangement strategy for the MBNA buildings and where An Taisce are still working with MBNA to advise on parking strategies for their various expansions.
Nobody in An Taisce wished to see Leitrim loose such footloose jobs that could just as easily have gone to Eastern Europe.The questioner was as mis-informed and polemical as is usual when An Taisce is in the dock.
Denis O’Donovans assertion that Dick Spring had given An Taisce statutory powers in 1983 was also incorrect, he had yet to drop the ball playing for Ireland yet when Neil Blaney of Fianna Fail granted them to An Taisce in 1963.
They must engage in debate the same way as everyone else: bullet points, bullet points, bullet points – and defend vigourously.
The political parties have all had expensive media training by Carr Communications. An Taisce is a charity so it can’t afford that. But if you’re controversial like An Taisce, you’re going to be asked onto things like Q & A. You can’t just keep saying no cos you haven’t had media training. You have to make the best of it.
Of course – they shouldn’t refuse an opportunity like this, the more the better – but it is common sense to keep things simple and to the point.
One of ATs biggest problems is dealing with issues that require explanation and in-depth debate.
Clearly Q & A is anything but an adequate forum, or Prime Time, but at least an effort could have been made to be clear and concise and as comprehensive as possible, instead of being sucked into the time wasting ‘responding period’ which is exactly what all the other panelists want – nit-picking over crumbs. Rather, members should simply set ATs agenda and ingore the more petty of allegations made by others.It is farcical that the same situations can be predicted every time, and yet nothing changes in ATs approach. The fact that any of the AT members here can clearly argue articulately and comprehensively, but are restricted to the internet, whilst the big guns make a mess of it in front of 250,000 viewers is even more ludicrous.
Considering how frustrating it is for me to watch such games, I can only imagine what it’s like for AT members – they must be mortified.I agree with Graham, if An Taisce were to do only one thing this year it should be to hire a PR officer with consultancy abilities.
The last thing that An Taisce needs is to put a heritage expert up to be out spun by second rate politicians.With the Prime Time and City West issues on their side a suitable professional could really have made the same panel sweat, instead of being technically correct but being out spun.
An Taisce should be very proud of Ian Lumely he has served the organisation as only a man of his ability and work ethic could, but TV is not his medium.
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