Naoise O'Muirí

Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership

Naoise — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 15:00:41 +0000

Some interest notes from the TTIP event held by the US Embassy in Dublin Castle yesterday evening:

A successful Agreement could result in:

(1) A 0.5% GDP stimulus for the entire EU

(2) A value of €500 p/a on average per househould across the EU

(3) 5,000 new jobs in Europe

(4) 4,000 of those in Ireland.

Update RE City Water Supply – 04/04/13

Naoise — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 15:55:42 +0000

Reduction in pressure and/or loss of supply throughout the entire city from 9pm (Thursday 4th April) to between 7am and 9am (Friday 5th April)

There will be a reduction in pressure and/or loss of supply throughout the entire city tonight (Thursday 4th April) from 9pm to between 7am and 9am tomorrow morning (Friday 5th April).

However, there has been a significant improvement in water supply situation since the imposition of night time pressure reductions began on Thursday 28^th March 2013.

As a result of a review held today (Thursday 4^th April), the following phased removal of pressure restrictions will apply.

With effect from Friday 5th April we expect to return to a regular service, albeit with reduced pressures, over the weekend.
The reduced pressure regime will cease when full production is restored at the Roundwood Water Treatment plant.

Dublin City Council wishes to apologise to our customers for the water restrictions we have had to put in place over the past week.

Due to the cooperation of all water users, we managed to save a significant amount of water and our regional strategic storage, which was at an extreme and unsustainable low level last Thursday, is almost back to its target level.

We will then continue to review and monitor the storage levels on an ongoing basis, but cannot rule out a return to more stringent restrictions if problems persist or the situation deteriorates.

Water demand is currently running higher than average due to the cold weather, which has caused an increase in leakage particularly on our old Victorian distribution system. Our crews are working flat out repairing any breaks as they arise. To help us in this regard we would ask people to report any location where they see water rising or running.

The single major issue still affecting us is the severe disruption to water production at our Roundwood Treatment Plant. This normally produces 66 million litres a day ( out of a maximum of 560 million litres for the entire Dublin Region) but is now down to an average of 40 million litres a day, a shortfall of 26 million litres. There is no problem with storage levels of untreated/raw water and there is no problem with water quality of treated water. The region does not currently have a normal strategic reserve of 10-15% to meet such problems and has at best a limited 1% reserve, which will improve in future with new investment and conservation measures in the planning and construction stage.

In an effort to maintain storage we are asking consumers to assist us in maintaining adequate water supplies by restricting their use of water as much as possible. If all of our customers could reduce their consumption by 5%, and maintain this reduction, restrictions could cease almost immediately.

We expect to implement a gradual phased reduction in restrictions until Roundwood is back in production.

Tonight we will be reducing pressures throughout the system in order to conserve supplies. While we will try, as far as possible, to maintain pressures during peak demand periods, pressures will be reduced at other times. This will result in lower pressures and in some cases possible loss of supply. People may notice reductions in pressure or loss of supply from 9pm to between 7am and 9am throughout the entire city.

Over the weekend, customers should have water supply at their cold taps. They may not always have sufficient pressure at night to fill their storage tanks, but as these will fill during the day, most customers will be unaffected by the pressure reduction. Customers should be aware that unlike some other utilities like ESB, water distribution systems cannot be operated and managed to the point where the exact locations and precise times at which the effects of pressure alterations (both increase and decreases) will be experienced, however we do make every effort to ensure that the times and areas affected are limited.

Dublin City Council regrets any inconvenience caused by these restrictions and will do everything possible to minimise their scale and duration.

RE: Homecoming Reception for the Irish Ladies Rugby Team.

Naoise — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 23:15:32 +0000

As they powered their way to a Grand Slam victory we were in contact with the IRFU regarding a homecoming event for the Irish Ladies Rugby team. The IRFU informed Dublin City Council that several of the players on the team are leaving to play a 7′s Rugby tournament in Hong Kong on Tuesday 19th March and for this reason the IRFU hosted a small reception at the airport for the team and their families today, Monday 18th March.

Dublin City Council, the Office of the Lord Mayor of Dublin and the IRFU hope to organise a reception in the near future to recognise the achievements of the Irish Ladies Rugby team for the players, their friends, families and guests.

Well done to all!

Intercultural Milestone Event in Dublin – VIDEO

Naoise — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 17:32:51 +0000

Mansion House Babies

Naoise — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 00:19:19 +0000

Just a midnight note of thanks to everybody for the many, many good wishes that have come in here on the arrival of baby Caoilfhionn!

It has been some week:

- On Monday we cast the spear in Dublin Bay with the assistance of the Irish Naval Service

- On Wednesday we travelled to London to visit the House of Commons and met Vernon Croker MP, Baroness Harris and Lord Kennedy with a view to having a Dublin exhibition there

- On Thursday at 9.13am baby Caoilfhionn arrived!

Not your typical week…

For those that are interested the full SP on previous babies born during the term of office of a Lord Mayor is as follows:

Baby (name unknown) born to Lord Mayor Richard Smyth and his wife in January 1824.

The Aldermen and Councillors clubbed together to buy either ‘a piece of plate or a silver cradle value £100, in testimony of our congratulations to them upon a recent happy event’.

Sylvester Louis Byrne, born 7 September 1934 to Lord Mayor Alfie Byrne and his wife. The baby was their youngest child and was named in recognition of his father’s papal knighthood, the Grand Cross of Saint Sylvester. In practice, he was always called Louis. The baby received two valuable gifts: a solid silver tea-tray, engraved with the Lord Mayor’s arms, from a group of 120 journalists, from all of the country’s major newspapers ‘as a mark of appreciation of Alderman Byrne’s constant courtesy and kindness to journalists’. Louis also received a silver cradle from the staff of the Irish Hospitals Sweepstakes.

Sinead Paul Mitchell was born in the Mansion House to Lord Mayor Jim Mitchell and his wife Patsy Mitchell. When Sinead was born a telephone call of congratulations came from the Vatican, followed by a gift of rosary beads from Pope Paul VI – the baby’s second name is in his honour. Dr. Paddy Hillery, President of Ireland, also telephoned with his congratulations and Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave sent his son around to the Mansion House with a lovely little dress for the baby.

Dishy Celeb comes to Dublin – VIDEO

Naoise — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 16:38:45 +0000

Statement from Dublin City Council RE works near City Hall – 16/02/13

Naoise — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 17:17:39 +0000

Statement re temporary traffic management works adjacent to City Hall

A temporary traffic management structure has been erected adjacent to City Hall at the junction of Lord Edward Street/ Cork Hill. It has three flagpoles erected on top and two plaques referencing City Hall and Dublin Castle. As the structure is temporary it was designed to minimise excavation and ground disturbance.

The structure is intended to change traffic behaviour at this location as a precursor to the development of permanent design proposals for this area. The proposed permanent works will be the subject of a Part 8 process to be considered by the City Council. The present structure will be removed and replaced by the proposals when approved.
The impetus for the temporary proposal came from discussions with the OPW when they requested assistance in their management of Castle Street as a forecourt to the Upper Yard of Dublin Castle during Ireland’s presidency of the EU. These traffic management issues had been identified as more urgent due to the increased volumes of traffic arising from the use of Dublin Castle during EU Presidency.

The temporary structure was discussed with a number of departments internally including the Conservation Office and while acknowledging its temporary nature were most concerned to ensure that the permanent proposals would be fully discussed and developed in the context of the Part 8 process. Whereas the present temporary structure deals primarily with the issue of traffic management and pedestrian safety, there are a number of other issues relating to this general area which will have to be addressed by the permanent proposals.

Dublin City Council Roads Design Department had carried out a feasibility study on traffic and pedestrian management on Castle Street which proposed significant footpath widening at the junction of Castle Street and Dame Street. This work will form part of the Part 8 proposal.

It is desirable to provide a fully accessible main entrance to City Hall (present disabled access is via the lower ground floor café entrance at Bernardo Square) The provision of universal access to City Hall is achievable on the Cork Hill elevation, subject to conservation considerations of the works involved. Equally the provision of disability access to the Rates Office is achievable via the existing door on Castle Street, again subject to conservation considerations of the works involved. The remodelling of levels to achieve universal access to both buildings will form part of the Part 8 proposal.

The provision of a vehicular set down area for City Hall needs to be considered as part of the Part 8 proposal.
The provision of disabled car parking spaces and the appropriate route from them to City Hall needs to be considered as part of the Part 8 proposal.

It is envisaged that the permanent paving material for Cork Hill/Castle Street will be Leinster Granite similar to that used recently on Palace Street. Fair-faced concrete was used for the traffic management structure as it is temporary.

Dublin free WiFi – VIDEO

Naoise — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 14:18:10 +0000

Time Lapse Dublin – VIDEO

Naoise — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 13:29:04 +0000

Great video of Dublin courtesy of Matthieu Chardon (well done Matthieu!)

Book of Condolence for Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe opens at Dublin’s Mansion House

Naoise — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 13:23:03 +0000

Lord Mayor of Dublin Naoise Ó Muirí has expressed his deep regret on hearing of the untimely death of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, in Dundalk, last Friday.

“I was shocked and saddened to learn of the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. He died serving his community and country. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, colleagues and neighbours at this unbearably sad time. Detective Garda Donohoe lost his life carrying out his duty as a valued, trusted and respected member of An Garda Síochána. He will be sadly missed by all” said the Lord Mayor.

The Lord Mayor will open a Book of Condolence at 2pm at Dublin’s Mansion House this afternoon. Assistant Garda Commissioner, John Twomey will attend at 2pm to sign the Book of Condolence.

The Book of Condolence will be available for signing by members of the public as follows:

Monday, 28th January, 2013. 2pm – 5pm
Tuesday, 29th January, 2013. 10am – 5pm
Wednesday, 30th January, 2013. 10am – 8pm