Calls for Dublin to share duties of capital with Athlone
SINN Fein and the SDLP’s success in the Northern Irish elections led to talk of a United Ireland in the Council Chamber and the possibility of Dublin sharing capital duties elsewhere.
During discussions on the Ireland 2040 national planning framework and the need for effective sharing of regional development, Cllr Joe Behan touched upon the possibility of creating a new seat of Government in Athlone.
He felt the Northern Irish election results had pushed forward the possibility of a united Ireland and Athlone would represent an ideal location as a second capital, similar to arrangements in Netherlands where Amsterdam is the capital but the parliament and Dutch Government is located in The Hague.
‘Athlone would be ideal for a new seat of Government as it is relatively equal distance for the east, west, north and south. I would suggest we look at moving the Dail and the Seanad into a new civic capital. Dail Eireann is a magnificent building but parts of it are falling apart and it isn’t fit for modern government.’
Cllr Steven Matthews commented that he once had a lecturer who believed that ‘all investment should go to Dublin and the rest of the country should become a national park. He was serious as well.’
Cllr Jim Ruttle said one half of the Midlands was badly in need of development.
Cllr Michael O’Connor wasn’t adverse to the idea of another region sharing seat of government duties but joked ‘as long as it’s not in Cork, otherwise they might start thinking they are as good as the rest of us.’
He also congratulated Fianna Fail on their recent proposals, adding ‘can I just say thank you for following Sinn Fein’s lead.’
Cllr Pat Vance stated Dublin ‘is our capital and always will be our capital’ but felt the capital hadn’t provided enough necessary residential accommodation.
‘Dublin has always relied on Wicklow, Kildare and Meath to provide accommodation while they benefited from a large rates base.’ THE construction of a concrete ramp into the River Dargle in the People’s Park in Bray will be suspended until legal queries raised are answered.
At last week’s Wicklow County Council meeting councillors voted overwhelmingly in favour of going ahead with the project despite residents of Little Bray raising concerns over the extent of the ramp and its legality.
At this week’s special meeting of Wicklow County Council held on Monday it was revealed that the residents had received legal advice which questioned whether the local authority was actually the owner of that section of the People’s Park.
Cllr Joe Behan said: ‘ the residents carried out their own research and the legal advice they received indicates that the vote last Monday was invalid as we aren’t the registered owners of that section of the People’s Park, and on that basis we can’t seek a Part 8 on land we don’t own.’
Cllr Behan proposed the deferring of the Part 8 until it can be established if Wicklow County Council are the registered owners.
Cllr Michael O’Connor said it had already been pointed out to councillors at the previous week’s meeting that there could be a problem with the project.
‘I said we should have held back. We don’t have the legal power to pursue this ramp.
‘No works should proceed until Wicklow County Council, prior to the next full meeting, receive a full legal representation for this Part 8. There are legal questions or otherwise this will end up in the High Court.’
Cllr Pat Vance said he wasn’t a ‘ legal expert’ and based the previous week’s vote on clarifications provided by the council executive to concerns raised by the residents.
‘I don’t want a situation where there is a doubt over its legality.
‘I would be happy for the matter to be investigated and then we can be provided with the relevant information at April’s meeting.’
Cllr Tom Fortune stated that he had great doubt over the legality of the ramp after conversations with residents the previous Monday.
Cllr Steven Matthews said he had based his vote on information provided by council officials.
‘During the whole process we were told that all the CPOs were in order.
‘I am happy enough to carry on on that basis once the council can prove everything is in fact in order.’
Cllr Brendan Thornhill also advised putting a halt to the works until the legalities of it have been confirmed.