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Winter 2008

From 1st January, new homes in Dún Laoghaire must meet energy efficiencystandards that are 40% higher than previous standards. They will lead tosignificant 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 Gormley’sfirst 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 home’s 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.Wesee these regulations as a large step in theright 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.ie

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

Iwould like to sincerely thank the peopleof Dún Laoghaire for their support during theelection last year and for returning me to DáilÉireann. I look forward to working hard torepresent you in the 30th Dáil 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.Ibelieve 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 positionsat the heart our agenda, we are alreadyseeing fresh thinking and innovative action onclimate change, energy and environmentalissues.Iam 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.CiaránCuffe.Com

Greener homes for Dún Laoghaire

Dún 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

Amessage fromCiarán Cuffe

Ciarán Cuffe TD duringGovernment negotiations last Summer

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Dún Laoghaire Rathdown CountyCouncil is drawing up a master plan forthe development of Blackrock Park. Inour submission, we outlined we’d 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/Blackrock

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On behalf of the Green Party, I’dlike to extend my thanks to formerDún Laoghaire Councillor KealinIreland for all the effort she has putin over the last four years. Kealin,whoresigned her Council seatbefore Christmas, workedextremely hard on the preservationof Dún Laoghaire Golf Course as agreen space and, more recently, onthe controversial issue of theproposed ten-storey developmenton the site of Dún Laoghaire Baths.I’d also like to take this opportunityto welcome on board CouncillorGene Feighery who has been co-opted on to the Council in Kealin’splace. Gene founded CombinedResidents to Save Open Space(CRSOS), an organisation originallyestablished to save Dún LaoghaireGolf Club. CRSOS expanded overthe years and now works withalmost fifty residents' associationsin the county to lobby on a range ofopen space and amenity issues.She also has a track record onheritage issues through her workwith 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 Dún Laoghaire train stationPlayground at Blackrock Park

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Improvements for Blackrock Park

NewFace ontheCountyCouncil

Success forYoungScientists

Iwas delighted to have theopportunity to visit this year’s BTYoung Scientist and TechnologyExhibition in the RDS, and to meetwith participating schools from theDún 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 year’s 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 concernedenvironmental 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 fromColáiste Iosagáin, Oatlands College,Rathdown, St. Andrew’s, Sion Hill,Rosemont, St. Lawrence’sand LoretoFoxrock for their participation andsuccesses 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 isnow a written agreement to provide for adirectly elected Mayor for Dublin withexecutive powers by 2011.We envisage this person would be electedto head a democratically elected Councilfor Metropolitan Dublin to include thecurrent four Dublin local authorities. ThisCouncil, headed by a mayor with executivepowers,would make decisions regardingthe long term strategic management of thecity including land-use and transportation.We want to see communities and citizenshaving a greater say in how their city is run,how their needs are met and how localservices are delivered. Electing a mayor directly accountable to the people would gosome way to addressing this.It is one of the Green Party’s core beliefsthat decision making take place at thelowest effective level. Devolving decisionmaking powers as part of a reform of localgovernment would ensure better engagement between communities andelected representatives as well as greater democratic accountability.www.CiaranCuffe.com/writings

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Action on Burma

Before Christmas I met with members of the Burma / Myanmar Government in Exile inLeinster House. The Burmese Prime Minister,Dr.Sein Win, is a cousin of Aung San Suu Kyi,aleading pro-democracy activist and leader of the National League for Democracy.Iwas delighted to have the opportunity to meet Dr. Sein Win and hear first hand of thedifficulties in the region. Dermot Ahern TD, Minister for Foreign Affairs, has urged the UNSecurity 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 beenimprisoned after unfair trials.Hopefully international pressure will continue and this will facilitate the release from housearrest of the Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The Green Party has written to theBurmese Consulate in London requesting that the junta allow peaceful protest to take placeand open a genuine and open dialogue to move towards reconciliation.Since the election I have become the Green Party’sForeign Affairs Spokesperson, and I amtrying to ensure that the Green Party’slong-standing interest in peace and justice issuescontinues.www.BurmaActionIreland.org

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Ciarán with Colaiste Íosagáin students at theYoung Scientists Exhibition

Ciarán Cuffe TD, Dr Thaung Htun, Mary White TD and Burma Prime Minister-in-Exile Dr.Sein Winat Leinster House

Directly Elected Mayorfor Dublin

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