The publication of the Mahon report has seen renewed calls for investigations into the planning matters of local authorities by An Taisce and others. In 2009 An Taisce called for the investigation of Dublin City Council’s planning record and subsequently it became one of seven local authorities under investigation by former minister for the environment John Gormley, this initiative being later reduced to an in-house investigated by his successor, Phil Hogan, which is a matter of some current political concern.
An Taisce The National Trust for Ireland has today stated that “The refusal of the Slane N2 bypass by An Bord Pleanála is an eminently logical decision and has protected a very important piece of Irish National Heritage”
“The decision on the Children’s Hospital by An Bord Pleanála will protect Dublin’s Future - An Taisce”
An Bord Pleanála has made one of the most significant planning decisions in its history in refusing the application by the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board for the 16 storey National Children's Hospital adjoining the Mater Hospital in Eccles St.
Proposed changes to retail guidelines will cost jobs and cause more dereliction
Minister Hogan needs to reject the proposed changes to increase the size of large stores.
Research shows that 1.4 jobs are lost in town centres for every new job created in out-of-town ‘megastores’. Because of their failure to engage with local suppliers and re-circulate money back into local economies, each new out-of-town ‘megastore’ results in a net jobs loss of 270 full-time positions, according to US research (see submission for details).
OLIVIA KELLY and MARIE O'HALLORAN Irish Times Monday 22nd August 2011
THE OWNERS of the former Bewley’s Cafe on Westmoreland Street in Dublin are facing legal action following damage to valuable stained-glass windows believed to be the work of the father of artist Harry Clarke.
PLANS TO open a McDonald’s fast-food restaurant in Dublin’s Temple Bar would detract from the cultural, artistic and historic character of the area, An Taisce has said.
Irish Times Letters - Saturday, September 26, 2009
Carlisle Pier development
Madam, – The Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company wish to respond to the article by Frank McDonald regarding Carlisle Pier, published in The Irish Times on Saturday, September 12th, 2009. We consider the article to be one-sided, and it also contains a number of inaccuracies. We wish to correct these, as the writer made no attempt to make direct contact with the Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company prior to publication.
From Olivia Kelly - Irish Times Tuesday September 15th
Giant's Causeway not immune from impact of global threat
OLIVIA KELLY
The protection of built and natural heritage must be central to the UN conference on climate change which will take place in Copenhagen in December, Simon Molesworth, chairman of the International National Trusts Organisation, told the conference in Dublin yesterday.