How Has The Garden Of Ireland Gone From Green To Greed?.

wicklow | environment | opinion/analysis

Thursday September 04, 2008 21:21

by Mr.Peter Brady Alias. - Concerned Citizens Action Committee.

The Giveaway of our Natural Resources for private speculation.

This is our first statement.

Dear Citizens and Friends.

You may be asking yourself the question who is the Concerned Citizens?.Well the Concerned Citizens is a group of concerned people that have come together from the towns of Greystones,Bray,Wicklow Town and Arklow in PROTEST as to what is going on in our local communities as a whole.It appears the people have no say in the running and the affairs of their local communities.The county councillors who are elected by the people to do the job appear to be acting as agents for somebody else.We say what is the point in electing people to public office when they are not representing your views in the council chamber.

What is the point in voting for these people when they appear to be working for somebody else.Local Government as we know it today is not working for the people.Local Government worked for the people back in the 1970's and 1980's when the council workers were out clearing the drains opening up manhole covers making sure that the drains were operational to stop heavy flooding but as we know today in ireland in 2008 that is not the case when we have experienced one of the most shocking times in irish history for flooding,so much for privatisation.Back in the 1970's and 1980's there was a time when the council workers would repair the footpaths,cut the grass verges,look after the overhead street lighting with the ESB.

But nowadays the people are being told before they buy their new house that they have to take on estate management fees.This is written in to the contract which was a agreement with the Private Developers and the Wicklow County Council and Local Authorities throughout this country that the Developers would look after this end of things in letting off the Local Authorities who once did this job i.e. Bin Collections.This is the kind of greed that we are now experiencing in the Garden of Ireland.This statement will set out a number of examples where your local Authority is and has failed the people.

ITEM 1:As you know the Bray and North Wicklow Area experienced the most recent tragedy of our two brave firemen who lost their lives unnecessarily in the face of total hypocrisy from Wicklow County Council and the other Established Bodies in Bray and Greystones.A system which has let them down badly and their families,and the people of Wicklow may they themselves rest in peace and never be forgotten.There are many people that would say that their is no money for a full time fire service,their is no money for a suicide prevention officer,their is no money for an accident and emergency unit for sick children at loughlinstown hospital.But these very same people can sit down behind closed doors in Wicklow County Council and negotiate with Developers and Speculators where their next projects are taking place.While they discuss with them the returns that they will get for each planning permission.We say we need to take away the power from these officials who are not elected by the people,but are making policy all the time in relation to many issues and aspects within local government WHICH WILL HAVE TO STOP.

ITEM 2:They can knock down lenihan's public house on the main street of Bray and replacing it with high rise apartment blocks and have no problem in providing the money in doing this.

ITEM 3:They can knock down four existing bungalow's on the herbert road in Bray and replacing them with 81 apartments in the face of strong opposition.

ITEM 4:They can provide the money to build the florentine centre aswell as other proposed developments which are taking off under this golden parachute.

ITEM 5:They can go against the will of the people in Greystones and provide 300 million euro's to build apartments on the public foreshore.

ITEM 6:They can pay people off for their land and walk over the democratic rights of the parents and children by removing the public schools from the town centre of Greystones and the Greystones Chamber remains silent about this,while they accomadate the other children in the gael scoil and educate together in makeshift prevabs because as we all know the government funding has ran out to build proper schools.But at the same time the people of Greystones are looking on at Public Private Partnership working very well in its town but the taking over of their public beach and the introduction of Parking Charges on the people of Greystones.

ITEM 7:But what they can not do is provide the people of Bray and North Wicklow with a full time fire service or knock down a derelict building lying up for a number of years which has claimed the lives of two brave firemen who should be still alive today with their families,the big question still remains why is all of this still happening? we say they there is no political will at local level to do anything about it.

We say enough is enough we dont want to hear anymore hypocrisy coming from their mouths when we all know that they are responsible for these deaths and outstanding issues mentioned in this statement.We say it is time to break away from the old traditions regardless of your party young and old,with a new type of politics that will have compassion for the people they represented and displaying that they do care as to what is going on in the local community,and not just in public relation exercise.

We say we need to get back the values we once had here in ireland which is lost in this web of selfish greed,which we have experienced in the last 25 years.We are calling on every christian person that has moral values for their country to join with us in making our country a more fairer and just society,that everybody will get a fair crack of the whip.We say it is time for each and every one of you to look at the situation in our society today at all levels and say to yourself do i want my son,my daughter,my granchildren, to be brought up in a society where we have the constant use of the gun and the knife,and where it appears the political establishment do not care.

It appears money is the main driving force behind all of this we can do better in this country by standing shoulder to shoulder by supporting one another and not just the chosen few who the establishment is looking after i.e (JOBS FOR THE BOYS).The problems are man made which can be solved and the battles are not all won,and we stand today on the edge of this battle facing into this web of corruption which is responsible for so much for what is taking place in our country today.

We will conclude by saying to you that we need to preserve DEMOCRACY and be entitled to the freedom of speech and defend it at all costs.We will also say that once Wicklow County Council knows they have commited part time firemen who will go out there everyday and risking their lives for us that they would keep sitting on the fence by doing nothing to achieve a full time fire service aswell as the other essential services that is so badly needed in the Garden That Was Once Green But Is Now Greed.

We would invite you in expressing your opinions and comments as irish citizens on any of the issues we have raised in this statement and as democrats in a free society.

Thanking You Mr.Peter Brady of The Concerned Citizens Action Committee for Bray and Greystones.

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Comments (21 of 21)

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I agree, but Ireland is multicultural now

by IshtarCelt

Thu Sep 04, 2008 22:43

I agree, our rights are being eroded stealthily, our resources given away, and the thievery supported by state endorsed violence and the armed forces who are supposed to defend us http://www.indymedia.ie/article/88929; Tara, one of the jewels of our national heritage is being destroyed and plundered, the army spends it's 1bn euro budget on tanks and expensive toys for overseas operations (cf Chad), while less and less money goes into emergency services and contingency planning (which is greatly needed now)...the list goes on and on. The web of corruption is astounding, the greed and power games sickening (literally in the case of the health service!)

However, I beg to differ with you on calling only on Christians - I am not a Christian (though I do have respect for the teachings of JC). I am an Irishwoman, and a Pagan. I am also a moral person. I am not the only religious or spiritual minority in Ireland, though - there are many Moslems, Jews, Ba'hai, Buddhists etc here now, all enriching the cultural fabric of Ireland, all alllowed freedom of religious practice by our constitution and the UN. And then there are some who are atheist, yet still fight against greed, corruption and the erosion of liberty and democracy.

I stand in solidarity with you, nonetheless.

Amen to IshtarCelt's comment

by Chrissie

Fri Sep 05, 2008 11:39

Yep, it's sad but true that many who call themselves Christians are absolutely opposed to Christ's teachings. Geo Bush calls himself Christian & bombs innocent people, Catholic Worker & Quaker volunteers (among others) put their liberty & safety on the line to oppose wars....which just shows that labels & 'groupism' are mighty misleading.
All people of good will need to come together to oppose the huge corruption which betrays the people of Ireland, our children, our ancestors, our heritage & our environment.
The corruption is enormous, but there are many people with the courage to struggle against the mad sell-out of our priceless homeland. 'If we fight, we may lose....if we don't fight, we've already lost!'

Email.

by Fintan o' Hara - Concerned Citizens Action Committee.

Fri Sep 05, 2008 16:33

if you have any further inquiries please contact us at fightingcorruptioninwicklow@hotmail.com -we want to hear from you.

Setting The Record Straight.

by Fintan O' Hara - Concerned Citizens Action Committee.

Fri Sep 05, 2008 16:44

We at the Concerned Citizens Action Committee would just like to point out that we are appealing only to right minded thinking people and we do not mind what peoples beliefs are we are open to all.

Government are gangsters...

by Terry D.

Fri Sep 05, 2008 16:52

I am part of a group that believes that it is not politicians who corrupt Government, it is Government that corrupt politicians and the people. Governments are set up not to administer society but to take from society and make sure that only certain people get the wealth and riches. This is exactly what is happening in Ireland today and is the reason that we have no help from the Government or local councils who, ultimately, will answer to Government.

Just look at the M50 farce. We pay tax for Government to build roads, but Government then build roads, with out money and then give their wealthy friends the right to charge us to use it while they get even more STEALTH tax out of it. The M50 Toll bridge is an €80million (after tax) a year industry, not to mention the other toll bridges around the country and all of that money comes out of our pockets and the pockets of local business.

The Government is like one big greedy company and the Taoiseach/ Chief is the CEO. The only difference is that these people are playing with our lives and the lives of our children, and they will continue to do so. County councilors answer to the Government.

Look up the 'Carlyle group' on Google and you will see what I mean. This company has employed and do employ big political names like George Bush snr, Olivier Sarkozi (brother of French president Nicolas Sarkozi (don't know spelling)) and other high ranking politicians. The Carlyle Group employ these politicians, get them to change laws or open toll bridges or go to war, and then sell products (like Toll barriers, roads or tanks and weapons) and make billions.

The Government pulled in tax revenue of over €166billion (profit) in 2006 yet in 2007 they had a deficit (loss) of over €200million. What could they possibly have done with €166bn which, let's not forget, is 166 thousand million euro??? - that number converts to over €40million per person in the 26 counties in only one year, yet 99% of Irish people wouldn't see that in a lifetime. You have to ask what they are doing with OUR money.

They are borrowing money from the world bank and the EU, making everything look great and when their investments don't work out they have to pay it all back and we are left in a recession. They're like a silly little teenager with a credit card running around shops and pubs until the teenager realises that they have to pay it all back with interest.

You may not think that this kind of thing affects regular people but everything that is done on the top 'trickles down' to us. We are being pushed into poverty and helplessness because Brian Cowen's wealthy mates are financially cleaning up!

Governments don't administer democracy, they try every trick in the book to get around democracy and that includes calling themselves democrats. They're not democrats, they're criminals. The wealth and resources of Ireland for the tax payers of Ireland, not for Shell and Denis O'Brien.

We can't even vote out the Government because, hardly anyone is registered to vote and we hardly ever get to vote. When we do get to vote, if we vote against the Governments wishes, all of a sudden there its a national crisis. It's not a crisis, the voters of Ireland said no! They are trying to get the Lisbon agreement passed now, without the consent of the Irish people making democracy a redundant practice.

Demand democracy! Oppose the Government! Support the citizens/ residents groups! Look after each other!

Terry D.

by lulu

Fri Sep 05, 2008 20:04

Didn't have no luck with the fightingcorruption......etc., email address.

Greystones

by Native

Sat Sep 06, 2008 14:31

The so called Concerned Citizens ( Bray Group) have nothing to offer by way of reasoned debate. They are mud slingers and should stay out of Greystones affairs.

Greystones is our affairs.

by Fintan o' Hara - Concerned Citizens Action Committee

Sat Sep 06, 2008 16:31

it would appear to us at the concerned citizens action committee that the so called native has clearly not read our statement.To post a comment telling us to stay out of greystones affairs is wrong.We have already made it clear that our members are from greystones,bray,wicklow town and arklow,so greystones affairs eg greystones harbour deception is very big on our agenda.

Concerned citizens and their endless statements

by Pamela Greystones Resident - None

Sat Sep 06, 2008 17:48

We have had endless statements being spouted about the Greystones Harbour deception from this concerned citizens group and now they are moving on to another fairly similar topic with more statements. That is all they do write crap endless statements but take no action on the ground. The harbour has well and truly started to take shape so endless writings on the wall by way of statements is not going to stop of change the machinery out there working on the project.
There is corruption in every walk of life since time began. Moaning and groaning about it and asking others to help fight it (but at the same time doing NOTHING BUT WRITING ENDLESS STATEMENTS is going to achieve nothing. These faceless people behind the statements should be out there having their photos taken beside the projects they are talking about and doing something on a direct basis not just issuing endless gibberish that achieves nothing. If you are a faceless person in the background not wanting to show yourself or climb out of your bunker who will support you. You need to be out there visible calling public meetings, protests in front of the Harbour, Council Offices or whatever and create a noisy stink get newspapers to cover the protests etc. The way the Concerned Citizens are doing things is a major laugh HA HA HA. When will they wake up???????

Cronyism

by Hector

Sat Sep 06, 2008 17:50

I fully support this group and am a native of Greystones. If we lived in the narrow-minded world of the "native" on this site one would never even leave Greystones! Thank god for the Dart! I would also like to see a fulltime fire service for the area. Look at Arklow-they thought it would be a good idea to just support the Arklow candidates in the last election-then none of them got elected in the end. Sickener! Now the town gets little attention (only bad). AT THIS RATE THE HARBOUR APTS WONT SELL-ROLL ON THE RECESSION!

88956

by Maxi

Sun Sep 07, 2008 06:08

From Green To Greed is a simple step.
Wish i had the answers to publish but i do not.
Have You Tried Our Overpaid 'Public Servants' ?
Now Is The Time To Do So If YOU HAVE NOT.

Makes Me Sick To Think 'WHO IS WORKING FOR WHO' IN THIS ONCE PROUD EMERALD ISLE.

Greystones Future Is Not In Safe Hands.

Tue Sep 09, 2008 00:51

On behalf on the Concerned Citizens Action Committee i would like to make a few points.Why is it that the Greystones Chamber of Commerce has still not served us with getting a proper full time fire service in north wicklow,to think we still have not got one in north wicklow to serve the people is very sickening and disgusting.We at the Concerned Citizens Action Committee would like to ask the Greystones Chamber Of Commerce to start doing their job properly,we would greatly appreciate if they would start working for the people instead of working for their business interests i.e. the building of 341 apartments on the public foreshore.It would also appear that the Greystones Chamber of Commerce has clearly no regard for the peoples feelings as it regards to the building of 341 apartments on the public foreshore.

It is very obvious to all that Wicklow County Council and the Developers sat down at a meeting behind closed doors and changed the 1999 Greystones/Delgany development plan.At the meeting Wicklow County Council and the Developers made a corrupt deal with each other involving the building of the 341 apartments on the public foreshore and the building of the new harbour.The people of Greystones had no say in this matter.Is this DEMOCRACY no its more like FASCISM.The people of Greystones need to ask the question who is running Greystones.It would appear to all of us at the Concerned Citizens Action Committee that the future of Greystones with all the corruption that is going on is not in safe hands indeed it is not.

if you want to contact us at the Concerned Citizens Action Committee email us at fightingcorruptioninwicklow@hotmail.com.

Greystones Chamber

by Ciaran Hayden

Tue Sep 09, 2008 09:01

info at greystoneschamber dot ie

01 2874226

Greystones Chamber is a business organisation representing 145 business's in Greystones and District. It's executive and President are democratically elected by it's members on an annual basis. Greystones Chamber fully supported Cllr. Joe Behan ( then Chair of Wicklow County Council) in his reveiw of the Fire Service in County Wicklow. The position of Greystones Chamber is that we are happy with the service provided by the Greystones Fire Crew at present and we would be very concerned if this crew were sacrificed to facilitate a full time service in Bray. Greystones eagerly awaits the findings of the three investigations into the devastating fire in Bray last year and will not comment on this issue any further until such time that these reports are in the public domain.
Greystones Chamber is very active in many areas of community life in Greystones. Projects that we have been closely involved in are:
1. The provision of Aircoach for the town.
2. Community facilities provided by developers in the town i.e. Community Center, Harbour Clubs and Swimming Pool.
3. Lobby IDA for provision of Jobs at their site to the South of the town
4. Provision of Pay Parking Scheme for Greystones.
5.The provision of a tourist and heritage trail in the town.
6.Lobby for better rail services to and from Greystones.
7. Support for the tidy towns committee.
8. Provision of Christmas lights.
9. Introduction of a BID scheme for the town.
10. Sucessful lobbying for N11 Interchange.
These are just to mention a few schemes we are directly involved in. Please see our link below for further info.

The People Of North Wicklow Want Action Not words.

Thu Sep 11, 2008 01:16

The people of north wicklow want action they do not want words.If there was real support coming from the established bodies representing the business communities in Greystones and Bray why then are the people of north wicklow waiting years for this,that is the question at hand,but the people already know the answer to this.If there was to be a full time fire service it will put pressure on the landlords and the established bodies representing the business communities in Greystones and Bray to put money into the safety of the buildings in the towns of Greystones and Bray.It would cost them too much on safety so it suits them in having it the way it is at the moment putting money before life and they know it,this is why the people of north wicklow have no full time fire service.All of us at the Concerned Citizens Action Committee also know that if a full time fire service did come to north wicklow it will bring a full time fire inspector and fire officer to Greystones and Bray in which he will inspect the buildings to see do they comply with fire regulations.The reason we have no full time fire service in north wicklow is because of the greed of the established bodies in Graystones and Bray,but there is no shortage of apartments,zoneings and planning permissions and not forgetting the chronyism thats buying into all of this.

If you want to get in contact with us email us at fightingcorruptioninwicklow@hotmail.com.

Where Do Loyalties Lie.

Thu Sep 11, 2008 02:26

This comment is in response to the recent statement by the Greystones chamber.We here at the Concerned Citizens Action Committee find the statement to be very interesting reading.First of all we would like to say that the politician that they referred to voted with the government against having a full time fire service for north wicklow and it calls into question as to why he went with his own party and not with the people when push came to shove.In principal he may support a full time fire service but we at the Concerned Citizens Action Committee are now asking where does his loyalties lie,are they with the people or with his party?.We find it very amusing that the Greystones Chamber are behind the introduction of the party restrictions which have been brought into Greystones,this was done without consulting the people once again and now the people are finding in the mornings that they have to pay a charge before leaving their children to school and that the carpark beside the dart station at kimberly road is completely free of cars because of this restriction,leaving the people in a situation where they have to leave their cars at the script car park.

This may be very nice to leave your car there on a sunny morning,but what way is it on a wet morning which is a good distance from the dart station.One may have to ask were these restrictions brought in as part of the harbour project,and the general feeling in Greystones regarding all of this is not good and one may have to ask why is it a private operation in Greystones unlike Bray and where are these money's going to.

If you want to get in contact with us email at fightingcorruptioninwicklow@hotmail.com.

Pay Parking

Thu Sep 11, 2008 08:38

I wonder did the "concerned citizens" make a submission on pay parking when it was open to public consultation. I doubt it.

Fire Safety

by Business man

Thu Sep 11, 2008 08:54

Four full time fire officers are employed in Bray Fire Station dealing with Fire Prevention. Their work includes issuing fire certs and building inspections. A full time operational fire crew would have no bearing on this work as it is a seperate department. Once again Mr. O'Hara is not aware of facts and thrives himself on using media titbits to further his agenda.

Tit for Tat and on and on it goes

by Georgina Finnegan - Greystones Resident

Thu Sep 11, 2008 13:18

This site has turned into a children's squabble with nothing but tit for tat postings.

It is doing NOTHING to resolve things and never will.

The Harbour work is IN PROGRESS and will remain so. Most of the town are looking forward to their children and future generations enjoying the new Marina and if the apartments sell ok, if they don't until the current climate in the property market changes it is the developer's loss not the townspeoples but they WILL in due course sell with the nice sea views and clean sea air so object all you want - some day they will make nice homes for local residents who will live there so get over it all you childish squabblers.

Again it is a case of moaning and objecting for objections sake.

If there are Fire Officers in Bray fine. I have seen fire Certificates pinned up in local establishments and they did not get there by themselves but by the Fire Inspectors in the area and rightly so. Therefore get your facts right about corruption in Council and business and its relationship to the full time fire service.

I agree the full time fire service is required in the area and Please God in time we will get it with the growing population in and around Bray and other towns close by.

You could start a million discussions and tit for tat arguments about corruption in all ranks of society but that is not going to get rid of it. It is there since time began and as long as there is cash to be made it will go on. Those who complain about it should just get on with living good decent lives themselves and set a good example to the next generation coming up and then maybe things will change by example for the future but the present corruption will probably have to wait until that generation dies off.

Response to the native from Fintan O'Hara.

Sun Sep 14, 2008 19:44

.Sir,you are educating us now.We were not aware that submissions were lodged in by members of the public,in relation to the private operations of car parking restrictions.However if we knew about this our submission as you would know by now would have been against such a charge particularly when it is to do with a private operator.The question still remains however why the operation in Greystones is private unlike bray why exactly is this ?.We are sure if there were submissions made by members of the public in relation to this that the established body in Greystones would have met strong opposition regarding this matter.However could you please provide this website with the information who was in favour and against the idea seen that you have the facts on the said matter.By the way just to let you know we are receiving numerous emails from the people in Greystones who are getting forty euro fines when they have only gone over seven minutes over their time and that is fact and there is no justification for this and i did not read this in the paper

Thanking You Mr.Fintan O'Hara of the Concerned Citizens Action Committee

In response to the Business Man from Fintan O'Hara.

Sun Sep 14, 2008 19:56

Sir,we are aware that there is four fire prevention officers attached to Bray fire station,but the question still remains what power has the fire officer got in condemning a building in Greystones or Bray when they have to deal with the politics in the local community,you know very well that the majority of these buildings on these main streets on these towns do not comply with fire regulations.The staircases leading up into these buildings are second rate with no fire escapes at the rear and bars on the windows on the upper floors on some of the premises,as you know if there was a fire here the people would not get out.We say if we had a full time fire service the fire officer would have executive powers and you know this only too well.

Thanking You Mr.Fintan O'Hara of the Concerned Citizens Action Committee.

In response to Pamela (Endless Statements).

Sun Sep 14, 2008 20:24

Dear Pamela.

I wish to reply to your comment on this site which states endless statements.I agree with this comment up to a point,yes the statements are very complex and i sympathise that you are finding it difficult to come to grips with the true meaning of them.But you must agree anything we have said is true and correct you may not think that people are not paying any attention to them BUT THEY ARE.We know the people in Greystones and Wicklow are not happy with the local councillors who sold them out on the 1999 Greystones/Delgany development plan.So we are of the opinion that a few new faces should appear on the council next year seeing that you want to see a few faces.As the place where we need to stir up public opinion on the council and not forgetting european parliament.Just to let you know ourselves and mrs.sinnott are DEMOCRATS who do not agree with political corruption.You may accept it but the majority of decent people do not.Oh yes we are slowly putting a face together on this through our petition,that we the people are bringing to europe and with their help and support will put a stop to 341 apartments been illegally built out on a public foreshore.In our previous endless statements we have made it very clear that we support the construction of a new harbour and club houses and the construction of a marina,but we do not support apartments on a public foreshore which has nothing to do with a marina.So can you tell me please what part of this do you not understand?.Roll on the Community Harbour without the high rise.

Thanking you once again for reading this endless statement keep the comments going without been prejudice.

Signed Mr.Peter Brady of the Concerned Citizens Action Committee.

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Comments (21 of 21)