LATEST DUBLIN CITY NEWS

• “Proposed changes to retail guidelines will cost jobs, compromise main streets and cause more dereliction - An Taisce”

  03-01-2012

  Jobs will be lost and main streets will suffer if Forfas gets its way on Retail Planning  according to a recent An Taisce  Press Release

• Rejuvenating Dublin's Tourism Product

  23-12-2011

  Dublin City Business Association commissioned Jerome Casey and Felim O’Rourke to undertake a study of tourism in Dublin and to make least-cost recommendations for its rejuvenation. The World Tourism Organisation concluded (in relation to Ireland) that "there appears to be very little correlation between marketing spending by National Tourism Organisations and international arrivals". 
  

  Within Ireland, there is a mismatch between the Irish tourism market and the public resources devoted to it. 

  33 existing tourist attractions in Dublin were reviewed, and low-cost initiatives suggested for their improvement.

  From 2000 – 2010 Ireland’s share of world tourism visitors has fallen sharply. In 2004, Ireland changed from being a destination country for incoming tourists to an origin country for Irish, outgoing tourists.

  Dublin must move from passive approval of tourist activities to an active development of tourism as a priority industry in regenerating the city’s economy. 

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

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Former Lord Mayor says there is no Dublin Agenda at national level

Thursday the 25th of March 2010

I believe that we are meeting at a defining moment in Dublin’s history.  The last century began with deprivation and political upheaval and ended with the so called Celtic Tiger. The 21st century brings Dublin its own political upheavals and challenges not least that unholy trinity of economic development, social sustainability and governance
 
Dublin like city regions throughout the world can be a strong economic engine for this country but we need to keep the fundamentals of quality, diversity, innovation, partnership and leadership firmly in sight. This is clearly a challenge where our strongly centralised policies are patent barriers as we compete for the brightest and the best in a global economy where investment flows to well - developed city regions, our competitors. This city is hurting, make no mistake about it, and it will take all our concerted actions to put it back on its feet.

The business community is at the very heart of Dublin and of its efforts to pull back from the brink.  I want to commend the many creative initiatives taken by DCBA to promote business and shopping in Dublin.  As you know I’ve made that my own mantra on any occasion I can. With nearly €1bn contributed by businesses in rates and other charges to the city I believe that the very survival of Dublin is intrinsically linked to the survival of our business heart
 
There are other problems facing us. A real challenge for the future of our city is how to maintain a truly socially varied population of Dublin city. Dublin city centre has lost the middle classes. People rush from suburbia to work and shop in the city but more needs to be done to bring the heart of families back to the centre of our capital city. A city that is not a living, breathing embodiment of all its people ultimately languishes and is vulnerable to less worthy pursuits. I believe that if more people were living in the city centre it would be an easier city to keep safe and clean.. Whatever policies are pursued, and there are many possibilities, new thinking is required to sustain real living in our nation’s capital.  We need to take back the city for recreation and everyday living
 
Make no mistake about it. Dublin is a vibrant dynamic city which clearly promotes creativity and has the potential to be a major centre for innovation and entrepreneurship.  Our historic core has adapted and evolved over 1,000 years but requires protection and development going forward.
 
During our successful bid for City of Science there were many aspects of this city which were easy to highlight as ranking Dublin above its peers.  Historic Christ Church and Georgian Dublin within walking distance of emerging Docklands and a now completed Convention Centre (which I personally guaranteed to have open during the Strasbourg bid!). Some of Europe’s finest shopping a stone’s throw from mountains and sea.  Accommodation to suit every budget with access to Luas, DART and other transport.
 
But, we are living in a time of unprecedented change and challenge. With challenge comes opportunity but the future really does belongs to those who dare to have a dream and who make that dream a reality. I believe that there is no shortage of people prepared to dream but it takes real courage to execute real change in a not so “brave new world”.
 
Which brings me to “change” and challenge in the governance of this city.  Vital change at this time cannot simply be a tinkering at the edges. It needs to be fundamental, radical, all –embracing. There is much talk about a directly elected Mayor. There is nothing as powerful as a good idea whose time has come. A directly elected Mayor is, in my opinion, a good idea whose time has not yet come. This is an office which should not be bound up in the current style of politics which has been rejected by so many. It needs to stand for something new.  It will not carry the power of a Taoiseach nor the protection of being removed from politics as the presidential office is. This mayoralty needs to be part and parcel of reform. Local government needs root and branch reform- that is not envisaged in current legislation. Radical change in local government would demonstrate serious political commitment to the new Ireland and could deliver for Dublin a model that would make our economic and social development truly sustainable. Are we capable of meeting the challenge of necessary change? In terms of politics at this time it would seem to me that politically we are not.

I believe that a narrow mayoral debate focussed on office and powers is a distraction from the immediate needs of our city at a time of serious crisis. During the last European elections we all saw how little real debate there was about Dublin in Europe. A narrow focus on individuals or on party politics is not what Dublin needs at this crucial juncture. I do not believe that the immediate crisis of Dublin will be central to this debate – but it should be. We talk about the need for a national government – I believe that Dublin needs to unite around the city’s needs rather than divide along political lines about who should be the directly elected Mayor.

For this reason I shall not be putting my name forward as a candidate for election in the autumn.  
  
Important matters such as control over transport and planning to encompass all aspects of living still remain in that abyss between national and local government.  The reality is that at national level there is no Dublin Agenda.  This is short-sighted in the extreme because a high functioning, economically successful capital is fundamental to this country’s recovery.  The Dublin region accounts for almost 50% of the country’s GDP - does it not merit a stronger national significance? . Our real challenge is to get Dublin onto a national platform where to date sadly its voice has been too silent.
 
We need a real debate about Dublin’s future. We need to demand from central government a proper focus on and a real plan for the development and sustainability of this city region. There is much uncertainty about the future but one thing is clear the old ways don’t work. People want change, real transformational change. We must engage all those who have through choice, or not, become disenfranchised. By delivering on real change in a meaningful way we will be a city and a region fit for purpose. Lean and mean enough to compete internationally on a very competitive world stage. Caring enough to embrace the communities we cherish.
 
Charles de Gaulle famously said that he had come to the conclusion that politics was too serious a matter to be left to the politicians.  The governance, the future of Dublin is too important to leave to a narrow political debate.
 
I believe that this is the moment when our city is best served by a Dublin movement.  A coming together in every teashop and meeting house, in pub and parlour, of Dubliners not just talking about what Dublin needs but considering how each of us in our own way can best serve those needs. From restauranteur to the shopkeeper, from the 90 year old who shares the history of our city to the gardener who plants a flower to brighten it, from the student who volunteers to help us “friendify” it to the housewife who opts to shop Dublin.  Whether native born or new arrival those of us who live and work in Dublin are “of the city”.  Let’s truly make it ours.  Why not wear a “badge for Dublin”?
 
Over many months many people offered me support for a mayoral campaign - well let’s use that support for Agenda Dublin. Let’s make real connectivity in this city by joining all those groups working for Dublin.  Business and social activism, culture and the Smart economy, Green agenda and technology.  Whatever our place in the city let’s contribute to Agenda Dublin.  ‘Discontent is the first step in the progress of a man or a nation” according to Wilde.  Well, we have discontent in abundance but we also have Parnell’s monument on O’Connell Street reminding us that “no man has the right to fix the boundary to the march of a nation”.  There is no limit to what this city can achieve if we march to our own tune but first we must harness discontent.  Let’s make Agenda Dublin our agenda.  The economists tell us that the tide is turning.  Unlike Mark Twain let’s seize an opportunity before it has ceased to be an opportunity and ensure that when the tide has turned Dublin will be on the crest of the wave.
 
I believe that DCBA has given much in terms of vision and in practice to Dublin.  The organisation remains committed to an internationally competitive and vibrant city.  I know from my many conversations with DCBA of your vision for the future.  I commend the work already done and look forward to embarking with you on Agenda Dublin.  Ni neart go cur le cheile, there is truly unity in strength.  Maybe that is the idea whose time has come.