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Printed on unbleached, recycled paper

Winter 2008

From 1st January, new homes in Dn Laoghaire must meet energy efficiencystandards that are 40% higher than previous standards. They will lead to

significant improvements in wall, roof and floor insulation. New houses will becheaper to heat and will produce less climate change emissions. This was aninitiative spearheaded by Green Party Councillors.In addition, one of Minister Gormleys first acts in taking office was to extendthese regulations nationwide. This will provide for a dramatic improvement inthe energy efficiency for all new homes across Ireland. The new BuildingRegulations also provide for a mandatory minimum level of renewable energysources in all new homes, such as solar heating or biomass systems (e.g.wood pellet). They will ensure that vendors provide easy-to-read information tobuyers on the operation of the homes heating and energy control systems.Boilers will have to perform to minimum efficiency standards. Air testing, toensure homes are not leaking excessive heat, will also be required.We see these regulations as a large step in the

right direction toward the aim of achieving zerocarbon homes in the future. A review toimprove the regulations further (to 60 per centabove current levels) will be carried out in2010.

www.environ.ieWeb

The Cultivate Building - A good example of high energy and conservation standards.

I would like to sincerely thank the peopleof Dn Laoghaire for their support during theelection last year and for returning me to Dilireann. I look forward to working hard to

represent you in the 30th Dil and to getGreen Party policies implemented inGovernment.

We made the decision back in June togo into Government because we felt that vitalissues, such as Climate Change, could notwait for another five years. After being amember of the Green Party for 25 years thiswas one of my proudest days.

I believe we emerged with a programmethat will point Ireland in a greener directionover the next five years. It's not perfect andwe didn't get everything we wanted, but withtwo senior Green Party ministers in positions

at the heart our agenda, we are alreadyseeing fresh thinking and innovative action onclimate change, energy and environmentalissues.

I am particularly pleased we got anagreement on cutting our greenhouse gasemissions by 3% annually, directly electedmayors from 2011, and a commitment toproper planning - all key priorities of theGreen Party prior to entering Government.

www.CiarnCuffe.Com

Greener homes for Dn Laoghaire

Dn Laoghaire, Ballybrack, Blackrock, Booterstown, Cabinteely, Carrickmines, Clonkeen, Corke Abbey, Dalkey,Deansgrange, Foxrock, Glasthule, Glenageary, Killiney, Kill O The Grange, Kilternan, Leopardstown, Loughlinstown, Mount MerrionAvenue, Monkstown, Mountown, Old Connacht, The Park, Rathmichael, Rathsallagh, Sallynoggin, Sandycove, Seapoint, Shankill.

www.CiaranCuffe.com

A message fromCiarn Cuffe

Ciarn Cuffe TD during

Government negotiations last Summer

Web

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Dn Laoghaire Rathdown CountyCouncil is drawing up a master plan forthe development of Blackrock Park. Inour submission, we outlined wed like tosee improved pedestrian access andless car parking than the Council areproposing. Any increase in car parkingshould have the agreement of localresidents and should not attract from theamenity of the Park.

Proposals to include recycling facilitiesand tea rooms in the park are welcomeand we feel the Council could alsoconsider placing a prominent civicbuilding such as Blackrock library withinthe park, though such a proposal wouldhave to carefully respect andcompliment the Park and nearbyprotected structures.

The Council could also considerintroducing vegetable allotments whichcould add significantly to the amenity ofthe park. We also feel any plan shouldbe subject to a Strategic EnvironmentalAssessment

www.CiaranCuffe.Com/BlackrockWeb

On behalf of the Green Party, Idlike to extend my thanks to formerDn Laoghaire Councillor KealinIreland for all the effort she has putin over the last four years. Kealin,who resigned her Council seatbefore Christmas, workedextremely hard on the preservationof Dn Laoghaire Golf Course as agreen space and, more recently, onthe controversial issue of theproposed ten-storey development

on the site of Dn Laoghaire Baths.

Id also like to take this opportunityto welcome on board Councillor

Gene Feighery who has been co-opted on to the Council in Kealinsplace. Gene founded CombinedResidents to Save Open Space(CRSOS), an organisation originallyestablished to save Dn LaoghaireGolf Club. CRSOS expanded overthe years and now works withalmost fifty residents' associations

in the county to lobby on a range ofopen space and amenity issues.She also has a track record onheritage issues through her work

with An Taisce.Kealin remains hugely committed tothe Green agenda and will continueto work enthusiastically with theparty and Cllr. Feighery to ensuremaximum success in 2009.

www.CiaranCuffe.com/DunLaoghaire

Cllr. Gene Feighery and Ciaran Cuffe TD at Dn Laoghaire train station

Playground at Blackrock Park

Web

Improvements for Blackrock Park

NewFace on

theCountyCouncil

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Success forYoungScientistsI was delighted to have the

opportunity to visit this years BTYoung Scientist and TechnologyExhibition in the RDS, and to meetwith participating schools from theDn Laoghaire-Rathdown area. Theexhibition, now in its 44th year, bringstogether students from all over thecountry to celebrate and advance thecontribution made by science andtechnology to our society.

Local schools were well representedat this years exhibition, and thediversity and ingenuity of the projectswas extremely impressive, witheverything from the science of bettingon football matches to preventingrear-end traffic collisions beingexamined.

Many of the projects concerned

environmental issues, and theenthusiasm and ability of the studentswas fantastic. I had last been at theexhibition two years ago and it wasnotable that many of the projects thistime round focussed on climatechange.

Congratulations to students fromColiste Iosagin, Oatlands College,Rathdown, St. Andrews, Sion Hill,Rosemont, St. Lawrences and LoretoFoxrock for their participation and

successes in the exhibition. It wasgreat to meet up with so many of youin the RDS!

www.btyoungscientist.ie

As part of the Programme for Government,

the Green Party has ensured that there is

now a written agreement to provide for a

directly elected Mayor for Dublin with

executive powers by 2011.

We envisage this person would be elected

to head a democratically elected Councilfor Metropolitan Dublin to include the

current four Dublin local authorities. This

Council, headed by a mayor with executive

powers, would make decisions regarding

the long term strategic management of the

city including land-use and transportation.

We want to see communities and citizens

having a greater say in how their city is run,

how their needs are met and how local

services are delivered. Electing a mayor

directly accountable to the people would go

some way to addressing this.

It is one of the Green Partys core beliefs

that decision making take place at thelowest effective level. Devolving decision

making powers as part of a reform of local

government would ensure better

engagement between communities and

elected representatives as well as greater

democratic accountability.

www.CiaranCuffe.com/writingsWeb

Action on BurmaBefore Christmas I met with members of the Burma / Myanmar Government in Exile in

Leinster House. The Burmese Prime Minister, Dr. Sein Win, is a cousin of Aung San Suu Kyi,a leading pro-democracy activist and leader of the National League for Democracy.

I was delighted to have the opportunity to meet Dr. Sein Win and hear first hand of the

difficulties in the region. Dermot Ahern TD, Minister for Foreign Affairs, has urged the UN

Security Council to place pressure on the military regime to move towards democracy in thecountry. According to Amnesty International, more than 1,300 political prisoners have been

imprisoned after unfair trials.

Hopefully international pressure will continue and this will facilitate the release from house

arrest of the Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The Green Party has written to the

Burmese Consulate in London requesting that the junta allow peaceful protest to take place

and open a genuine and open dialogue to move towards reconciliation.

Since the election I have become the Green Partys Foreign Affairs Spokesperson, and I am

trying to ensure that the Green Partys long-standing interest in peace and justice issues

continues.

www.BurmaActionIreland.orgWeb

Ciarn with Colaiste osagin students at the

Young Scientists Exhibition

Ciarn Cuffe TD, Dr Thaung Htun, Mary White TD and Burma Prime Minister-in-Exile Dr. Sein Win

at Leinster House

Directly Elected Mayorfor Dublin

Web

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More Recycling for Dn LaoghaireGreen Party Environment Minister John Gormley has made available over 350,000

in funding to Dn Laoghaire Rathdown County Council to assist them with the

operational costs of bring banks and civic amenity facilities. The allocation will come

from the Environment Fund, established with revenues obtained from the Plastic

Bag Levy introduced in March 2002 and the Landfill Levy introduced in July 2002.

The Fund is used to provide assistance or support in respect of a range of waste

management, litter and other environmental initiatives.

What has been shown over the last number of years is that where the recycling

facilities are in place, people will respond enthusiastically. They want to play their

part and I hope this money will help enable Dn Laoghaire Rathdown County

Council to provide new recycling facilities closer to where people live to make it

easier for them to recycle.

www.CiaranCuffe.com/WasteWeb

Recycling facilities on Killiney Hill

Your Green TeamBLACKROCK WARD

COUNCILLOR NESSA CHILDERS

is a Psychoanalyst and

lectures in Trinity College.

She is on the Transport and

Housing Committees of the

Council. Her interests include

traffic management forBlackrock, and Safe Routes

to school.

You can contact Nessa directly at

nchilders@cllr.dlrcoco.ie, M 086 818 6712, 14

Gledswood Avenue, Dublin 14

DN LAOGHAIRE WARD

COUNCILLOR GENE FEIGHERY

left her career in financial

services to become a fulltime

homemaker and mother.

Gene studied Landscape

Architecture and Design and

is a member of An Taisce, The

Irish Georgian Society, Royal

Horticultural Society, and the

Garden Landscape & Design

Association. Gene is committed to proper

planning and sustainable development for Dn

Laoghaire and believes that the towns unique

heritage will secure its prosperity.

You can contact Gene directly at

genefeighery@cllr.dlrcoco.ie, M 086 350 1198, 1

Eglinton Park, Dn Laoghaire

BALLYBRACK WARD

COUNCILLOR TOM KIVLEHAN

is from Cabinteely and has a

business and tourism

background. He is on the

Economic Development and

Planning, and Environment

Committees of the Council.

He is Chairman of the Board

of Management of Cabinteely

Community School and sits

on the Health Executive Forum. His priorities

are good planning for new communities,

supporting small businesses, and protecting

the Green Belt and the local environment.

You can contact Tom directly at

info@TomKivlehan.com H 204 3916, M 086 818

6717, 33 East Courtyard, Tullyvale,

Cherrywood, Cabinteely

Green Party Comhaontas GlasJustice, Foreign Affairs and Transport

Spokesperson96 Patrick Street (Over the Pet Shop)

Dn LaoghaireTel 284 6060, Fax. 618 4341Email: Ciaran@CiaranCuffe.com

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