Press Release – O’Gorman welcomes Fingal CC call for changes to Castleknock Village development

15/09/08

Green Party Castleknock ward candidate, Roderic O’Gorman has welcomed the call from Fingal County Council for changes to be made to a proposed major development in the centre of Castleknock Village. He was speaking after Fingal County Council asked the developers to submit additional information about the project, including a request that that height of the development be reduced to two storeys in a number of locations.

“I’m delighted to see that Fingal County Council has responded to the concerns myself and many local residents raised in our objections to the original planning application which included proposals for 4 storey buildings. The Council has recently written to the developer looking for extra information on the project and as part of this it is recommending that sections of three of the proposed blocks be reduced to 2 storey’s”, stated Roderic O’Gorman.

“The Council is paying further attention to the concerns of local residents by its request that a daylight and shadow projection diagram be submitted to ascertain if existing residences will be affected by overshadowing. Tall building can have a major impact on the amount of light that surrounding residences receive and it is vital that this aspect of the development is fully clarified”.

“Further, the Council is requesting more information about drainage and stormwater management at the site. In light of the recent severe flooding that has been seen over-developed areas of Dublin, this is vital to ensure that the development does not result in localised flooding in Castleknock”.

“When the planning application for this site was submitted, I welcomed certain aspects of it, such as the extra civic space that is incorporated within it. While I see the request for additional information from Fingal as a positive development – particularly the recommendation to reduce building heights – there are still aspects of the proposal that have not been addressed sufficiently. In particular, I am concerned about to the excessive number of car parking spaces proposed and the lack of family friendly, 3 bedroom homes in the scheme. I look forward to Fingal County Council comprehensively dealing with these issues when they make their final decision”, concluded Roderic O’Gorman.

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Further Information
Roderic O’Gorman: 087 417 9777
rodericogorman@gmail.com

Press Release – O’Gorman calls for full implementation of the Intoxicating Liquor Act

07/09/09

Green Party Castleknock ward candidate, Roderic O’Gorman, has called on the Minister for Justice to fully implement Section 9 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act, 2008, which would mean that shops which sell alcohol would have to keep the drink in a ‘structurally separate’ area of the shop.

“I’m calling on the Minister for Justice to quickly implement Section 9 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act, 2008. This section would make it mandatory for traditional shops that also sell alcohol to sell the alcohol in a ‘structurally separate’ area of the shop”.

“At the time the rest of the Act was implemented, it was decided to postpone the implementation of this section and instead to initiate a voluntary code of practice, whereby shop owners would make the necessary changes. However, I don’t see why, if it is thought that the objective of keeping alcoholic products separate from general groceries is considered to be a desirable one, why this can’t be achieved by primary legislation”, stated Roderic O’Gorman.

“I don’t believe that in traditional shops, beer, wine and spirits should be sold right beside bread and milk. This trend is very noticeable in the many convenience stores in Dublin 15 which have also obtained an off-licence. I believe that having large stands advertising beer or spirits can only reinforce the drink culture. No one is saying that these shops shouldn’t be allowed sell alcohol, but they should be made do so in a separate part of the building”, concluded Roderic O’Gorman.

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Further Information
Roderic O’Gorman: 087 417 9777
rodericogorman@gmail.com

Press Release – Greens Select Deirdre De Burca as Euro Election Candidate

Green Party European Election candidate, Sen. Deirdre De Burca and Roderic O'Gorman

16/09/09

Green Party Castleknock ward candidate, Roderic O’Gorman has welcomed the selection of Senator Deirdre De Burca as the party’s candidate to run in the Dublin Constituency in the Euro Elections next year. At the selection convention in Liberty Hall, Roderic O’Gorman was chosen as the party’s ‘first replacement’ for Senator De Burca.

Speaking after the selection convention, Senator de Burca stated:

“I am delighted to have been chosen to represent the Green Party in the European elections next year. The Greens have a real chance of regaining an MEP for Dublin. We held this seat from 1994 to 2004 and I am looking forward to an exciting and challenging election campaign”.

“The EU has shown excellent leadership on issues close to Green Party hearts such as human rights and environmental protection and has shown itself to be an international leader on climate change. The Greens in Europe have been at the centre of this movement. I feel it is important that the Irish Green Party is part of the progressive politics that are happening now at an EU level”.

At the selection convention in Liberty Hall, Castleknock ward candidate, Roderic O’Gorman was selected as the ‘first replacement’ for Sen. De Burca. This position means that should Sen De Burca be elected an MEP but be unable to continue in the role, Roderic O’Gorman would become the MEP for Dublin without the need for a by-election.

“I’m delighted that the Green Party are running a strong candidate like Deirdre De Burca in the European Elections. I believe on issues like climate change, energy and human rights, Deirdre will bring a distinctive voice to the election campaign and I will be working hard to help her get elected”.

“I’m also very pleased to have been chosen by the Dublin members of the Green Party for the position of first replacement. While right now my priority is being elected for the Castleknock/Blanchardstown ward so I can represent Dublin 15 on Fingal County Council, I have a major interest in European affairs as a lecturer in EU law”, concluded Roderic O’Gorman.

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Further Information
Roderic O’Gorman: 087 417 9777
rodericogorman@gmail.com