It’s good to get things put in proportion on occasion. Two weeks ago in the Indian city of Jaipur, a taxi driver asked me how many people lived in Ireland. He and 800 million other Indians had watched the Irish cricket team run India close in the Cricket World Cup. In that one 2015 performance, the Irish cricket team was watched by more people than will watch the national football and rugby team, plus every golfer, all our GAA teams and every Conor McGregor fight put together in 2017. That’s how big India and Indian sport is.
So when I replied that there was about six-and-a-half million of us on the whole island, he laughed and said, “You live in paradise”. He went on to point out that we live in a peaceful part of the world, surrounded by fish, not antagonistic neighbours, with lots of water and fresh air, lots of arable land and only a handful (by Indian standards) of fabulously wealthy people. We chatted about cricket (my spoofery to his encyclopedic knowledge) and went on to politics. The first generation of post-colonial Indian leaders, particularly Nehru, was very taken with Ireland. The driver concluded that “with a good plan, you in Ireland can do anything”.
Flicking through the Government’s “Ireland 2040” plan, I couldn’t help returning to the taxi driver’s parting words: with a good plan, we can do anything. And he is right. Relative to the rest of the world, we can look to the future optimistically, if only we can get a few things right. The government’s 2040 plan is a good start.
Twelve years ago, when writing the ‘Pope’s Children’, I went out to the booming counties around Dublin, a place called the Baby Belt, of which Naas was the buckle of the baby belt. This was where the population was exploding. This is precisely where the dynamism and excitement of young families and new estates could be felt. For me suburbia was not the dystopian landscape of editorial writers, but rather it was — and still is — a New Ireland, blossoming under strained circumstances and shouldering bad planning but as is so often the case, sustained by human endeavour and the innate familial optimism that drives all of us forward.
Obviously, the massive overcrowding in this baby belt was undermining the quality of lives for those on the East Coast, in particular, commuters. And with over 50pc of the entire economic activity of the country, this swollen part of the country was draining potential commercial opportunities from the rest of the country. Ironically, the better road system that was supposed to channel economic and commercial activity to the regions had the opposite effect. It facilitated commutes form further and further away. As a result, the new motorways only exacerbated the urge to build one-off housing further out into the Baby Belt. This has created a giant arc of development and commuters stretching from beyond Drogheda, sweeping westwards through Navan, Mullingar, south to Tullamore, towards Portlaoise, east to Carlow and out the Irish Sea again at Gorey. This is the New Ireland, the new overpopulated Pale, multi-cultural, multi-coloured and soon to be extremely overcrowded.
If we do nothing and allow the market to determine the next 25 years, this part of Ireland will become unpleasant, angry and unstable.
In contrast, what was termed “Rural Ireland” will become “Empty Ireland”, pretty but desolate, a theme park for tourists trying to find the “Real Ireland”. It will be a bit like a giant famine village — an abandoned place, which used to be thriving but is now silent.
It’s not just rural Ireland that is suffering because population trends in traditional Ireland are being replicated deep in our inner cities. The most extraordinary fact of the past 20 years is that the living population of our cities has collapsed.
This is particularly marked outside Dublin, but even in the capital we have seen population declines in many wards inside the M50, which is extraordinary. So places like Dún Laoghaire on the Southside and Howth on the Northside have experienced falls in their population. This isn’t limited to the traditionally more well-to-do areas. The same is true for Cabra, Artane, Finglas and Coolock. It is also the case in Dundrum, Stillorgan, Terenure and Templeogue.
Behind this change is the shifting population dynamic as the kids from the suburban 1960s, 1970s and 1980s estates have fled the nest and moved out beyond the M50 because they can’t afford to live in the areas they were brought up in.
In Limerick, Cork and Waterford the denuding of the city centre has been extreme. There are only 1000 people living in Georgian Limerick. Given that Georgian Limerick is an architectural gem, such a collapse in population is a travesty for those who could have lived there but instead commute in and out.
Now this is real dystopia.
But it doesn’t have to be like this. Granted, if left to its own devises, activity will centre on great urban areas because this is where the choice is, the people are, the demand is, the footfall is and big cities are the cradle of creativity and dynamism that attract yet more people, ideas and money.
But this is only possible if people can live in the city. Otherwise the city becomes a destination not a home.
Proper planning can do two things that could redefine Ireland in the next 20 years. Planning can rejuvenate city centres by building up, not out, and rebuilding communities thereby making much better use of urban land. This is a win/win for everyone, more density, less commuting, less pollution and a more vibrant urban and cultural life.
The second thing good planning can do is stop sprawl. A proper national plan can identify areas that will be encouraged and identify places or counties that must be limited.
Here is the rub. In a democracy, planning is tricky because it demands centralised choices made by planners. In China, this is easy because the Party simply chooses places and that’s that. So if you live beside the new dam, tough luck. Ireland doesn’t work like that. We have politicians who see every win for a neighbouring county or city as a loss for them. Therefore, we rarely have such a lofty notion as the national interest, but a series of micro-battles, which are used as evidence every four years at election time. It is a depressing form of dependency, but it dominates what goes for politics here.
Therefore, encouraging and all as the Government’s new plan is, it’s first hurdle — and remember this is a minority government — will be with the Irish political system. If it can get past this impediment, maybe the Indian taxi driver is right, we can do anything here!
Thanks David. Very Interesting article.
Although it is extremely brave to plan up ro 2040, I do think that climate change will be the deciding factor for our future. Ireland is geographically well positioned on the map to attract people more people to come here because if the mild weather. Not necessarily people looking for a job but people looking for a safe place, high and dry. I can see Ireland becoming a place to stay away from the heat. I am living in Asia at the moment. People are less likely to go out voluntarily unless they can get into an air con car… Read more »
Sorry for the typos, typing from my phone :-)
Subscribe
One battle to be played out locally will be the boundary commission battles. Waterford City is lop sided with the vast majority of its development concentrated on the South side of the River Suir. If Waterford is to develop as a city then it needs to grow on the North Side. Only a fraction of Ferrybank on the North Side of the river is in Waterford City Council with mot of it administered by Kilkenny County Council. Waterford City council’s area should be expanded to incorporate the rest of Ferrybank and surrounding hinterland to allow for sustainable development. This should… Read more »
David says “Proper planning can do two things that could redefine Ireland in the next 20 years. Planning can rejuvenate city centres by building up, not out, and rebuilding communities thereby making much better use of urban land. This is a win/win for everyone, more density, less commuting, less pollution and a more vibrant urban and cultural life. The second thing good planning can do is stop sprawl.” While he is right on what needs to be done (and that it’d be a win-win for everyone if it was done), I do not think that he accurately identifies the reasons… Read more »
Hi Dathi, Sorry to rain on your parade but the article in my view is a well written nonsense let me explain; There were 6600 houses completed in first half of 2016 according to this; http://www.bpfi.ie/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Housing-Market-Monitor-Q2-2016-Final.pdf So assuming a similar number for the second half of 2016 say 14k total. IN A COUNTRY NEEDING 30K TO 40K PA. Indeed. Why aren’t more houses being built? Ans. The restrictive nature and scarcity of lending but most importantly the scarcity of well paid jobs and all the zero hour Min wage shit going around has reduced the purchasing power of the first… Read more »
Coldblow, you wrote: “coldblow January 31, 2017 at 10:25 pm “Farage says that the reaction to Trump’s travel ban is hypocritical because that Obama put a six month ban on travellers from Iraq in 2011 and nobody even squeaked.” It is even worse – Obama’s administration was filled with Muslims, who were granting refugee status to Jihadists from countries other than Iraq, while refusing it to Christians, sending them back to their persecutors – this explains why Obama had also have the highest percentage of deportations. Btw, how interesting that President Trump – whose main plonk was to find out… Read more »
Couldn’t agree more regarding planning in the city center, building up is really necessary, the m50 is a disaster.
Eventually trends will change in cabra, terenure, et al. older people will move out and most likely young families will move in. This is a result of building large developments at once for families, the families grow up, move out and population drops but then should stabilize again when downsizing and sadly deaths occur.
For any interested, I’m trying to get signatures on a President Trump petition..
https://www.change.org/p/donald-trump-build-that-house
On the First day, God made Ireland, but he made a bo**ix of every other nation and so the Irish were the Master race – but then the politicans came along and turned everything the Irish achieved over to the vulture funds who enslaved what was left of the Irish nation living in Ireland and so we were doomed to hell – destined to NEVER achieving our full potential . Talking to an Ambassador the other day, I asked her what things she saw as a problem in Ireland and she immediately cited car insurance as one problem – and… Read more »
No wonder only 1000 people live in Gerogeian Limerick AKA Newtown perry. The buildings are not fit for purpose ,old decrepit and falling down. In the entire area there is not one elevator in those buildings.They are disabled unfriendly,starting at the front steps and at least four flights of 20 steps each stairs.They could be pouplated if two things happened[1]The Luftwaffe had bombed them to rubble between 1939 and 1945 or [2]The ridicilous preservation orders are lifted and these buildings are gutted internally and rebuilt to allow modern facilities be put in like wheelchair lifts and elevators.You can make them… Read more »
@ Grzegorz, In Aanirfan.blogspot.com’s latest article — it is about “David Beckham whom I always consider to not be able to head the ball, nor tackle, nor dribble, but apart from that is not a bad player” ref. George Best & whom Truthist likes for being a charming & pleasant chap but is revealed here as being a bit of a miser — is an interesting post by poster Brabantian highlighting Poland dissident jailed for anti-NATO stance of his ; “Dr Mateusz Piskorski, chairman of the Zmiana ‘Change’ political party, is a renowned Polish scholar & anti-NATO activist who has… Read more »
The only real thing to bother Ireland in the next 5 years will be the collapse of the monetary system, stock bond and housing markets. The collapse of the EURO currency. There are no plans for that. It needs an independent money system. A national currency, backed by silver. No plans for that either. Easy to do but economic serfdom is preferred. Let the banksters prevail. Bail outs will happen again. Pension plans and savings will be bailed in. Your deposit at the bank is an unsecured loan to the bank.You are an unsecured creditor with no rights when the… Read more »
Planning ? The only thing that we Irish plan is getting drunk, and escapism. And of course the media keep us on track, to make sure that we do not become too independent minded. The Irish media has more power now, than the RCC ever had. And this is one of the results – sports-madness. http://ericpetersautos.com/2017/02/05/the-relief-valve/ When I read this, I think of what is now a core belief system for large proportions fo stupid men in this country. [ Strong passions can erupt in unpredictable ways. The government understands this – and desires that strong passions be diverted in… Read more »
Great article.
It’s always good to get the perspective of outsiders.
The however is what events could occur that would derail the plan. Brexit won’t help but makes good strategic planning even more essential. The great reset is the most likely evebt. When might that occur? About 8 years from now is the most likely estimate. Donald Trump second term in office will be coming to an end. Far more importantly the ECB project “No more cash” will also be reaching completion. The powers that be know all about the great reset and are preparing accordingly. Bail in was a step in those preparations but once there is no cash they… Read more »
Miriam O’Callaghan is a “Gatekeeper” for the Institutional State of the Irish State [ our own ISIS ] ;
No wonder she is anti-Syria / anti-Assad.
She is “no good” for underclass Irish.
I seem to recall that she revealed how good she was at adultery on her 1st husband Tom McGurk.
So, she is good at something after all.
Here is an interesting plan. Perhaps we will see a proper audit of the Federal Reserve that will tell us the true state of the nation’s and indeed the world’s financial situation. CORE PRINCIPLES FOR REGULATING THE UNITED STATES FINANCIAL SYSTEM By the power vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows: Section 1. Policy. It shall be the policy of my Administration to regulate the United States financial system in a manner consistent with the following principles of regulation, which shall be known as… Read more »
Links of current news that prove Irish State excels at planning & then executing those nefarious plans : Just “Highlight” > “Right-Click” > “Select ‘Go to … ; particular Link’ independent.ie/irish-news/councils-owed-300m-in-loans-found-renting-out-properties-for-10-a-year-35425941.html irishexaminer.com/ireland/cork-city-council-slated-for-lack-of-financial-records-on-properties-437531.html CORK CITY — “THE CITY OF THE MERCHANT PRINCES” [ MANY WERE HUGUENOT ] — IS PLACE WHERE MOST OF SIGNIFICANT “STROKES” EMANATE FROM. independent.ie/irish-news/civil-servants-will-pay-nothing-towards-pensions-if-unions-get-their-way-on-levy-35425931.html independent.ie/business/personal-finance/pensions/large-differences-in-contributions-of-300000-workers-35425932.html irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/cabinet-memo-warns-public-sector-pay-deal-has-taken-all-extra-funds-for-existing-services-775666.html AND, SURELY THE FOLLOWING REEKS OF IRISH STATE “AD HOC” PLANNING + EXECUTION OF RESULTING PLAN HECK, WE NEVER HEAR THE END OF IT ABOUT DETECTIVE McCABE WHO GOT KILLED IN SHOOT-OUT IN WHICH McCABE — A TRAINED KILLER WITH UZI… Read more »
Here is a plan
“Le Pen launches presidential bid on an anti-Eurozone platform: Le Monde reported that Marine Le Pen, leader of the French Front National, launched her presidential campaign this weekend in Lyon, in which she promised to pull France out of the Eurozone if elected. She said, “by staying in the euro, they are sinking our economy, they are sustaining mass unemployment and they are giving the European Union the force to impose its views, its inept directives and its millions of migrants.”
Here is a toast to a rational plan!
http://www.businessinsider.com/it-might-be-impossible-to-keep-up-with-chinas-demand-for-gold-2017-2?IR=T 100’s of millions of chinese would like to buy gold but have no access to be able to do so. Even the chinese demand alone amounts to over 50% of the annual worlds mined production. other world demand from nations and individuals far exceeds the other 50% of the mined gold. The shortfall is coming from western sources. That is Asian and Russian demand is taking gold from the west and moving it East or North. We soon run out of this available western supply source. Perhaps the diminishment of Western gold will be revealed by an Audit of… Read more »
http://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2017/02/06/trump-administration-already-paul-craig-roberts/
“What happens to a country when the alternative voice is even more stupid and corrupt than the government’s voice?–PCR
http://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2017/02/03/leftwing-placed-trash-can-history-paul-craig-roberts/
http://www.goldcore.com/us/gold-blog/gold-bullion-banks-open-vaults-transparency-push/
http://www.lemetropolecafe.com/img2017/Midas/2/6/B.png
The Royal Mint in London reports that coin sales are on the rise amid political turmoil, with sales to Germany more than doubling in volume last year and sales to the U.K. rising by over a quarter. Chris Howard, the director of bullion at the Royal Mint, says that coin and bar production is up 50 percent compared with a year ago. The group expects similar growth this year through expansion in the U.S. and German markets. Political concerns from the EU to the U.S. sent gold rebounding to a three-year high in 2016. According to the World Gold Council,… Read more »
In the physical markets, despite China’s week-long closure to observe the Chinese New Year (Year of the Rooster), the eastern hemisphere markets continue to “consume” a lot of physical gold. Premiums all week in India have been high enough to reflect moderate to heavy legal kilo bar importation. Dore bar imports have been flowing steadily for several weeks. Additionally, Vietnamese were paying $135 over world spot gold, indicating voracious demand. The latest official Swiss gold export report for December shows that the Swiss exported 154 tonnes of gold to mainland China in December. This was almost four times higher than… Read more »
Henry Makow of http://www.henrymakow.com tweeted this as recommendation to view ; HEADING ; The Most Satisfying Thing You’ll Watch Today: Marion Le Pen Dismantles Feminist Hypocrisy in 3 Minutes SUB-HEADING ; The niece of Front National leader Marine Le Pen gives a scathing rebuke to the “has-been feminists” and “political dinosaurs” haunting French parliament 04 Feb 2017 EXTRACT ; With so much doom and gloom in the news cycle, we thought it would be prudent to share something that will help restore your faith in humanity. Marion Maréchal-Le Pen, the elegant, articulate niece of Front National leader Marine Le Pen,… Read more »
CAN THE KNIFE CUT ITSELF ? WARNING BY U-KNOW-WHO TO NEO-COHEN Mr. TUSK FROM POLAND Illinois warns European Union on boycotting settlements Governer tells Donald Tusk that his state pension plans forbid investing in companies that divest from Israel 05 Feb. 2017, Governor Bruce Rauner signs landmark anti-BDS legislation for the state of Illinois on July 23, 2015. In the wake of the UN anti-settlements resolution, the governor of Illinois warned the European Union that companies complying with boycotts of Israel or of its West Bank settlements face divestment by the governments of Illinois and other states. Gov. Bruce Rauner,… Read more »
“Without planning, new Ireland will be unpleasant, angry and unstable”.
Then, let’s be honest, new Ireland is going to get unpleasant, angry, and unstable.
Conclusion: Trump understands that he needs to end the Fed if he want the nation to truly become healthier. But he may settle for controlling the Fed for his own purposes. That would be too bad.
http://www.thedailybell.com/news-analysis/republicans-reeling-in-fed/
Apropos of mini-thread of discussion above on Climate Change & Global Warming & all that jazz. The famous economist Martin Armstrong just posted this ; HEADING U.N. Official Admits Global Warming Agenda Is Really About Destroying Capitalism 03 Feb 2017 Submitted by Martin Armstrong via ArmstrongEconomics.com SUB-HEADING A shocking statement was made by a United Nations official Christiana Figueres at a news conference in Brussels. EXTRACT Figueres admitted that the Global Warming conspiracy set by the U.N.’s Framework Convention on Climate Change, of which she is the executive secretary, has a goal not of environmental activists is not to save… Read more »
And, later the man + woman were told ;
“Go forth & do NOT multiply !”
Irish State government minister Mzzz Katherine Zappone — Misandrist & Abortion / Murdering of Pre-born Children advocate — is all the ways from USA here to fulfill this decree.
That is some indictment on the constituency that voted her into Dail Eireann.
Of course, certain folk are patient enough to have very very long term plans … for control of the world.
.
And, a crucial strategy has been to corrupt the Gospels of Christ.
.
.
The Zio-Christians — Judeo-Christians [ But, surely a oxymoron term ] — are “testimony” of this now executed plan.
And, the account for the major proportion of the retrograde portion of Trump’s electorate.
http://www.libertytothecaptives.net/darby_doctrinal_changes.html
FOR THE IGNORAMUSES WHO READ THIS BLOG Please do not feel insulted. I mean that statement in the same vein as the following from the Christ. “I have not come to call righteous ones, but sinners, to repentance.” … Luke 19:10 HEADING “Capital must protect itself in every possible way, both by combination and legislation. Debts must be collected, mortgages foreclosed as rapidly as possible. EXTRACT “When, through process of law, the common people lose their homes, they will become more docile and more easily governed through the strong arm of the government applied by a central power of wealth… Read more »
Well, great balls of fire, surely they mean they are joining the Mshd ? Or is it that we are being subject to an exercise in propaganda to dis-orientate us so that we just give up trying to make sense of the whole shebang ? But, anyway, here goes with what this article says ; HEADING French Jews are converting to Islam and even joining ISIS 15 Sep 2016 Posted with permission from Arutz Sheva SUB-HEADING According to reports from Jewish leaders in France, there is concern about a rise in conversions to Islam from within the Jewish community. THE… Read more »
But how to plan for to cope with complete disfunctionality ?
Clearly, the more this behavior is promoted ;
==> the more converts it gets.
“There’s none as queer as folk”
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/cdc-gay-men-make-up-only-2-of-us-but-63-of-all-new-aids-cases?utm_content=bufferb9bae&utm_medium=social&utm_source=lifesitenews%2Btwitter&utm_campaign=buffer
Update on “Pizza-gate” ; HEADING FBI: Pizzagate Arrests ‘Imminent’ In Washington Pedophile Ring Bust 04 February 2017 SUB-HEADING An FBI whistleblower has confirmed that 30 politicians and 40 other individuals are to be arrested in Washington D.C. and New York City in connection with the Pizzagate pedophile ring. EXTRACT An FBI whistleblower has confirmed that 30 politicians and 40 other individuals are to be arrested in Washington D.C. and New York City in connection with the “Pizzagate” pedophile ring, and more suspects are under investigation as the investigation continues “branching out in unexpected directions.“ The insider at the Federal Bureau… Read more »
As if Planning & Plans ==> Virtue ? No, they do not necessarily ==> Virtue Here, get a look at this from across the stretch of ocean to the British Isles ; EXTRACT Overhauling the Official Secrets Act – the Law Commission’s proposals Civil servants who leak files of state secrets could be jailed for up to 14 years. Currently the maximum term is two years, under the Official Secrets Act 1989 Official secrets legislation to be expanded to cover “information that affects the economic well-being of the United Kingdom in so far as it relates to national security” Foreigners… Read more »
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/15a16f62e61becfb?projector=1
Marine LePen expresses some basic common sense.
Ref. The house of http://www.henrymakow.com MOST PLANS ARE ASSEMBLIES OF WORDS ONLY. MANY PLANS ARE A MIX OF WORDS & NUMBERS [ incl. “worded” numbers ] SOME PLANS ARE A MIX OF WORDS & ILLUSTRATIONS. A LESSOR AMOUNT OF PLANS ARE OF ILLUSTRATIONS & NUMBERS ONLY. HERE IS UPDATE ON THE “KILL-RATE” OF WORDS DEDICATED AGAINST PRE-BORN BABIES. SO FAR, HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL PLAN IF ONE IS A SOCIOPATH. EXTRACT Every word associated with abortion is loaded. To “abort” means to bring something to a premature end, like aborting a mission due to a problem. But that neutral-sounding word utterly fails… Read more »
RTE WAITING LISTS AND TROLLEY WATCH REALITY ABUSE PROGRAMMES. Dear Rte, To date we sit at home and watch Rte present their version of Irelands 2017 health crisis. Based on the OECD report Ireland have 12.6 nurses per 1000 population. 2.8 beds per 1000 population. Ireland have 38% more nurses than the OECD average. Ireland have 50% more nurses than the UK who have 8.2 nurses per 1000 population. The OECD average is 1.8 nurses per bed. Ireland have “4.5” nurses per bed. Ireland have enough nurses for 9000 more beds. Why is the Rte narrative with regard to this… Read more »
MAJOR NEWS !
“MOWING OF THE LAWN” — PALESTINIAN GAZA & / OR PALESTINIAN WEST-BANK — HAS COMMENCED.
Surely Hamas is working for Israel ?
http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.769915
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/worldnews/9138976/Israeli-air-strikes-on-Gaza-and-Palestinian-rocket-attacks.html
Another major trading nation abandons the USD dominated SWIFT system. Japan plans bilateral trade arrangement without using the reserve currency.
Longer term this is the demise of the US dominated trade arrangements and the demise of the strong dollar. The US can expect a falling dollar and increasing inflation and even hyper inflation which is just over the next hill.
http://www.thedailyeconomist.com/2017/02/long-time-us-vassal-state-japan-to.html
This is the one I meant to link to above:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9mzJhvC-8E
Mind-controlling, leader-planting, scheming pedophile activity, assassination, …
It all involves planning :
“on-the-fly”
ad hoc
short-term
mid-term
long-term
And, new leader of Canada — G8 country & country with major Irish immigration over the centuries [ even Quebec is over 40 % Irish ] — Justin Trudeau is mired by one hell of a beaut that his father Pierre Trudeau [ Premier of Canada between 1968 & 1984 ] was.
It looks like Justin Trudeau is going to further recent Premier Harper’s destruction of Canada.
Here is Aanirfan.blogspot.com latest article
http://aanirfan.blogspot.com/2017/02/the-mysterious-trudeaus.html
This post contains most valuable material for DMW to refer to when composing his future articles over the term of Trump & beyond. It is presented as an interview ; But, I suspect that it really was scripted by the interviewer & his team. The interviewee makes many valid points. But, there are some glaring sins of commission & sins of omission. Example of Sins of Commission ; Ref. to Judeo-Christianity ; That term is an oxymoron The chief strategist for Trump is Mr. Stephen K. Bannon ; Here he outlines the vision element of the Trump Administration’s “Plan”. There… Read more »
“Global Warming or Climate Change is a scam” It is very difficult to prove whether that statement is true or false. If it’s true it’s very difficult to ascertain what is causing it. Is is human activity or is it simply because of where the earth is orbitally around the sun, it’s current degree of axial tilt and its proximity to a pole swop. And that’s just three of the possible influences, there may be more. Yeah, I know, it’s a simple problem isn’t it. However it’s a fact that man has reached a point in his evolution that he… Read more »
@Truthist and Grzegorz.
Hi,
Just a gentle observation;
Ye spend waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy too much time on the blog. Ye must have no jobs.
Life is for living guys. In golf they say you gotta take time to smell the flowers.
Warm regards,
Michael.
Hear, hear David! Excellent article. Focusing on the real issues…Hope you get to unpack your last paragraph re the political system. Needs an overhaul and serious incentives to ensure politicians meet Ireland’s objectives not just parish objectives. Also serious incentives needed for vastly improved urban planning in Dublin and major, major, investment/incentives to locate/live outside Dublin and beyond the Pale. We need ambitious growth and prosperity targets across the island. Time to leave the Famine years behind us once and for all.
I do not know how many readers cook for themselves, but this is worrying:
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/health/common-method-of-cooking-rice-can-leave-traces-of-arsenic-in-food-queens-university-belfast-scientist-warns-35434905.html
Of course, it might be a total bullshit. But then again…