Dick Roche replaces Cullen

is this an improvement?

Haha – Dick Roche goes into environment and Cullen into transport.

Predictions: Metro killed stone dead. Motorway building programme accelerated. Heritage lobby groups eradicated.

remember the crisp bags press release?

what was this??

Hmmmm The Reshuffle,

Delighted for Willie O’Dea although there were others more capable he is an honest guy who has consistently worked his arse off.

Dermot Ahern into the Northern Ireland portfolio was another good choice.

Harney for Health; she has got guts

Dick Roche for Environment, I’m happy enough he did a good job on the leg work for the European presidency, he has a good academic background and is clever enough to see through the IRDA.

The article in the Tribune was unfortunate but he did apologise to An Taisce’s Chairman in RTE and even offered to help cleaning the Tailors Hall garden ‘some Saturday’ with us. Interestingly the context was planning irregularities in the ‘Garden of Ireland’ and he certainly has his work cut out for him.

Contrary to many peoples perception An Taisce has traditionally had a positive relationship with past Ministers for Environment & Local Government. FF’s Blaney gave proscribed status to the Trust in 1963. The 1976 act gave further status and Dempsey was a great minister from a heritage point of view.

Cullen was very much the exception to the rule and quite frankly electronic voting really sums the guy up. He has a unique ability not to listen to what is being discussed but rather ‘Bluster’ his way through disscussions.

I am seriously worried about Transport, I have every confidence that there will be a dual carriageway to Waterford long before any start has been made on integrating Dublins disjointed and isolated rail networkS.

I welcome Roche’s appointment.

It’s been in the air for a while that Dick Roche was going to the Environment. His “attacks” on An Taisce, first over development at Powerscourt then over crisp bags in Tailors’ Hall, were just political strategy; a pre-emptive strike to keep the gombeens/An Taisce-haters that run rural Ireland happy (when they would hear he was going to Environment).

As Irish politicians (esp. FF) and Planning go, Roche is actually relatively enlightened.

Too right Diaspora, Cullen going to Transport is really really not funny. I can’t see the two Luas lines being linked (on-street) now, let alone the ‘figure of 8’ Luas, which i am in favour of.

If Willy is gone to Defence who is the new Minister for Limerick?

But ye have to admit the front yard of Tailor ‘s Hall that faces onto High Street is a bloody disgrace.

yeah it’s not up to much, but it’s a back site exposed by road-widening.

Greg,

I personally cleaned the Tailor’s Hall garden two weeks before those pictures in the Tribune, the Friday after the article I took two black sacks of rubbish out of that small garden again. The week after that another full sack.

That area of Dublin is simply dirty and it would require about 10 hours per week to keep it in ‘Merrion Square’ levels of cleanliness.

If anyone would be willing to help me the next time I am going to clean it (Always Voluntarily) this sunday please e-mail me, any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

As Dick Roche himself pointed out we are a voluntary organisation. His offer of assistance was greatly appreciated.