Michael TurleyLocal Representative for Donnybrook, Sandymount, Ballsbridge and MilltownSupporting Chris Andrews for Dublin South East |
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January 9, 2007Grand Canal PetitionPosted 1126 days ago by Michael Turley on January 9, 2007 Councillor Chris Andrews has started an online petition to improve the level of services provided for Dublins Grand Canal by Waterways Ireland and Dublin City Council.September 13, 2006Irish Election Blog ConferencePosted 1244 days ago by Michael Turley on September 13, 2006 October 7th will see a conference on, of all things, blogging the next Irish General Election. It will be held in the Digital Hub on Crane Street. The event seems to be at a provisional planning stage and the organisers are looking for sponsorship and guests. Hope it all goes well.More information at the Irish Election website. September 6, 2006TCD Long Room Fund RaisingPosted 1251 days ago by Michael Turley on September 6, 2006 I noticed this at Independent Senator Norris' website. Trinity College, Dublin are currently undergoing a project which aims to clean the collection stored in the Long Room (which apart from many other distinctions is claimed to have been used as the basis for some impressive Star Wars scenery). The projected cost is €2 million. I visited the Long Room during the summer for the Beckett exhibition and I would urge everyone to visit this very important and beautiful library.More information can be found at Trinitys Alumni website and a donation form can be downloaded from here. August 31, 2006Voter RegistrationPosted 1257 days ago by Michael Turley on August 31, 2006 Most people in Dublin South East should have received a voter registration form by post but, in case you haven't, you can download the relevant forms from the Dublin City Council website at Dublin City Councils website.Click here to download a voter registration form as Gaelige and here for the English version. See the government OASIS website for more information. June 13, 2006Former Taoiseach Charles Haughey passes awayPosted 1337 days ago by Michael Turley on June 13, 2006 Read here for more details and here for an official statement from the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern. Slugger O'Toole has an interesting post on the former Taoiseachs passing.A controversial figure (even within his own party), the different aspects of his complex character will be more fully understood in time. Here is a letter I wrote to the Irish Times in 2003 in defence of Mr. Haughey after a fairly predictable attack from Kevin Myers. A balanced obituary piece from the London Times. Well written, slightly wry piece on Haughey by Colm Toibin. RTE radio interview with Senator David Norris about Haughey and Joyce (the Senator is disappointed that Bloomsday activities are cancelled because of State funeral arrangements). June 8, 2006Minister Willie O'Deas McCabe commentsPosted 1341 days ago by Michael Turley on June 8, 2006 Interesting post on Slugger O'Toole. The recent documentary about Garda McCabes wife on the 10th anniversary of his murder has caused the media to refocus on Sinn Feins loose grasp of the concept of justice and glaring contempt for the established rule of democratic law.Martin Ferris, when asked if he would assist the Gardai in their investigations, offered the perhaps ideologically sound but otherwise suspect excuse, "I have been an IRA volunteer in my lifetime. I have been a victim of a person who informed on me. I would never betray that loyalty to an organisation to which I once belonged." It is obvious that Mr. Ferris is operating in the same moral vacuum as elements within Northern Ireland security services who are obstructing some well known collusion cases. Over the last couple of years, Mr. Ferris has also claimed that the men serving time for attempted robbery and shooting two Gardai are not criminals either because of their IRA affiliation or due the fact that they were "fundraising". I hope Mr. Ferris still has his medical card because he's going to hurt himself doing the mental gymnastics required to square that particular circle. Minister of Defence, Willie O’Dea, puts it well when he said: "Martin Ferris has given us the Sinn Féin definition of justice....Sinn Féin has forfeited the right to talk about justice." "...it seemed the only circumstances where Sinn Fein was against crime was when it was being committed by someone who did not support the party and where it did not require its members to support the gardai." He added: "Since the signing of the Good Friday agreement, we have waited for Sinn Fein to finally decide if it is a political party or just a political wing. Martin Ferris now makes it clear that they barely even qualify as a political wing." March 21, 2006Political BloggingPosted 1421 days ago by Michael Turley on March 21, 2006 Piaras Kelly recently posted a piece about political blogging. He had asked a few questions about my political blogging experience and he was kind enough to quote some of my answers.February 27, 2006Yob ProtestPosted 1442 days ago by Michael Turley on February 27, 2006 In the wake of Saturdays yob protest, Michael McDowell has serious questions to answer regarding his competence as Minister for Justice.While correctly defending the right of the unionist demonstrators to march, he did not make the most basic of provisions to allow for a worst case scenario. In effect, he gave dissident Republicans (a tiny political minority) a significant platform to promote their agenda of division amongst the alienated youth of the north inner city, who made the most of an exciting Saturday afternoon. He also landed a double whammy by handing negative elements within unionism a significant propaganda victory. McDowell is fine when in full verbal flight attacking militant republicanism but has not delivered one practical measure to arrest their corroding influence on society. In his defence, one might say that only the riot organisers can be held responsible for Saturdays chaos but his inability to direct the security services to control and maintain order is a serious reflection on his abilities to perform as Minister for Justice. Organisation of the 1916 commemoration will be an even more fraught issue now. Some interesting Riot Photos and a good analysis piece by Susan McKay here. February 22, 2006Tackling Election FraudPosted 1447 days ago by Michael Turley on February 22, 2006 Councillor Damien Blake proposed a simple but clever idea to counter possible election fraud in a recent discussion about Minister Roches recently reported concerns over inaccuracies in the electoral register.He suggests that a voters PPS number should be linked to their entry in the electoral register. Nice to see a bit of lateral thinking brought the debate. I will be adding my voice to the calls for this measure to be introduced. Update - Feb 23: Minister Roche emailed to say that the suggestion above is one of the solutions being examined. February 16, 2006EU Services Directive AdoptedPosted 1453 days ago by Michael Turley on February 16, 2006 Mainstream analysis of the EU services directive seems to suggest that, by rejecting the "country of origin" principle, the European Parliament managed to reach a manageable consensus.Ireland, with an economy which has a healthy focus on the services industry, seems to be well positioned to take advantage of the directive. It is a pity that sections of the opposition (that is one half of a so-called alternative government) felt the need to attempt to stir up protoxenophobic sentiment as some form of half-baked protest against what should be a positive development for all European consumers. Printed in the 26 February 2006 edition of The Sunday Business Post Click here for more information and here for Minister Martins press release. |
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