Car Insurance has increased again and is really affecting vulnerable people esp older people barely surviving on their pension. Older people, especially in rural areas, depend on their cars to get to the shops, to Mass and to the Post Office. Now older people are being forced off the road by unaffordable premiums. This further isolates a people who are already isolated by lack of rural transport and the depopulation of rural areas. Car insurance hikes also affects students who need car transport to get to college. Workers on low incomes can't afford to get to work. Anyone living in rural Ireland needs a car to get to schools, shops etc. My car insurance has been increased from 450 Euro in 2015 to 731 Euro in 2016. This is an increase of 281 Euro - 3 weeks pension. I have no claims and no penalty points to warrant this increase. This is beyond my reach and many older people I have spoken to are in the same position. There is a place called 'STOP' and this is it.

Keep the Liffey Cycle Route on Dublin’s quays — say no to a backstreet detour, yes to a Dutch-style two-way cycle path reclaiming part of the quays and a new riverside park. Option 6 is workable and the best route for the city. Act now to save the route — sign the petition (coming soon), and email [email protected] and your local city councillors to make it clear you want the route to stay on the quays. After thousands of people supported the Liffey Cycle Route in a widely-publicised public consultation, Dublin City Council caved in to “severe” behind-closed-doors lobbying. Now the city council wants to detour the route away quays and onto back streets, removing a planned section with an iconic riverside park. There are pros and cons to all options, but a huge part of the importance of this project is to reclaim the a small part of riverside and provide a safe and attractive cycle route for the north and south quays. A detour into Smithfield will detract from the route and will not make many of the objectors happy. Keeping the route alongside the Liffey makes sense — it connects residents, commuters and tourists to the city centre’s main waterfront, is more attractive to users and it connects better to the southside, including Heuston station, the Irish Museum of Modern Art, the Guinness Storehouse, and hospitals and other large employers who are encouraging staff to cycle. Objections to keeping the route on the quays don’t make sense, read why here: http://irishcycle.com/quays/

Cycling already accounts for 27% of all traffic on Dame Street, making it the most popular cycling area in Dublin, in spite of the current hostile conditions. With an expanding population and national policy to increase the share of walking and cycling trips across the city to 25% in the coming years, this area needs to be equipped to handle a proportionate increase. We’re calling on the City Council to guarantee the delivery of a new College Green that meets the needs for current cycling and walking volumes and is future-proofed for projected demand. The area needs to deliver for all users of the space, no matter where they’re coming from or going to, whether they’re walking through or lingering; whether cycling with children or cycling to work. The needs of visually impaired people, deaf people, children and the elderly need to be catered for at the proposed plaza in particular. The tried and tested Dutch model for cycling, employing high quality segregated routes and widespread permeability, is the only proven way to realise truly inclusive levels of cycling. Cycle flows must have the same attention to detail as public transport to unlock the true potential of cycling in Dublin. We’re concerned that the latest drawings do not convey this. Specifically, we’re calling for: A detailed design that takes advantage of the principles of sustainable safety and does not use shared walking and cycling areas, in accordance with section 1.9.3 of the National Cycling Manual (NCM). We view this as central to the success or failure of the plaza; Use of self-enforcing separated cycle tracks which are well-defined visually and spatially, using angled kerbs, grade-separation and colouring to create new bike permeability for Trinity, Dame Street, Grafton Street Quarter, O’Connell Street and other destinations in the area; Use of bus stop bypasses at all stops on Dame Street and all other possible measures to separate busses and cycles in the area, including bidirectional paths in accordance with the NCM/Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets requirements. 660 Dubliners have already backed our calls for improved walking and cycling commitments in this year’s City Development Plan, joining almost 8000 overwhelmingly positive submissions on the 2015 Dublin City Centre Transport Study. The leading business groups have also backed the College Green proposals, which will make the city even more attractive to the world’s leading companies and their workers. The council has already shown what quality cycling routes can achieve in Dublin with the Grand Canal Cycleway. It’s now time to build on that success.

Since pre-industrial times, our world has warmed by a global average of almost 1 degree celsius, due primarily to greenhouse gas pollution from human activities. This has already triggered serious planetary-scale climate disruption, and is having devastating humanitarian impacts on vulnerable communities in diverse geographical regions. But we are not powerless. We can still act: both to limit the speed and ultimate severity of global climate impacts, and to brace our own society for the potentially drastic shocks ahead due to the climate disruptions we have already initiated. This will require urgent and radical societal transformation. That can only happen with the willing engagement and support of the people. We need a genuine, sustained process that allows every single citizen and community in Ireland to fully consider the range and nature of the changes we face, and to advance policies and actions that are commensurate with them. Only in this way can we hope to create the unity and solidarity that is essential to create a strong, resilent, and genuinely sustainable society. We need a Citizens' Convention for a Post-Carbon Ireland.

Herzog Park is named in honour of Chaim Herzog (1918–1997), one of the most distinguished Irish-born figures of the 20th century. Renaming the park would not only erase a piece of Dublin’s multicultural heritage, but could also be perceived as dismissive of the historical contributions of Ireland’s Jewish community. Who Was Chaim Herzog — and Why He Matters to Dublin 1. Born and raised in Ireland Chaim Herzog was born on Orwell Road, Rathgar — the very community where the park now stands. His childhood and formative years were spent in Dublin and Belfast. He attended: Wesley College, Dublin Masonic Boys Secondary School Sandford Park School His early education, identity, and worldview were shaped on the streets surrounding what is now Herzog Park. 2. A global statesman with Irish roots Chaim Herzog became: A Major General in the Israeli Defence Forces Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations President of the State of Israel (1983–1993) One of the most influential diplomatic voices of his era Despite rising to international prominence, he regularly acknowledged his Irish upbringing as a meaningful part of his personal and intellectual development. 3. A rare example of Ireland’s global legacy Very few Irish-born individuals have gone on to hold the presidency of another nation. Herzog represents: Ireland’s diaspora The influence of Irish education Ireland’s early multicultural history The long-standing presence of the Jewish community in Dublin Herzog Park stands as a symbolic connection between Ireland and one of its most accomplished sons. Why the Name Matters to Irish Heritage Herzog Park is one of the very few public spaces in Ireland that recognises the contribution of Irish Jews to the cultural and civic life of the nation. The name honours: a minority community a significant Irish-born world leader local history rooted directly in Rathgar Removing the name risks erasing this recognition. Why Renaming Will Be Perceived as Antisemitic. To be clear: one cannot claim someone’s motives without evidence. However, i believe renaming the park will. 1. Erase one of the few public acknowledgements of Jewish heritage in Dublin Ireland has very few landmarks dedicated to Jewish figures. Removing one disproportionately affects the visibility of Jewish history. 2. Single out a Jewish-associated name rais ng legitimate concerns When a small minority with limited public representation is targeted for symbolic removal, it can echo past patterns of cultural marginalisation. 3. Send an unintended message that Jewish contributions are expendable Chaim Herzog is a celebrated head of state, soldier, lawyer, diplomat, and Irish son. Removing his name diminishes recognition of his connection to Dublin. 4. In the current climate, risk being interpreted through the lens of rising antisemitism internationally Even if no harmful intent exists, the timing and symbolism may understandably alarm Jewish communities and allies.

This is a serious issue for all residents, their visitors, service providers and emergency services. There have been multiple collisions at that junction already and many vehicles have had their wheels and tyres damaged. 

Action must be taken before this road claims a life

Increased bus services means Increased independence, especially for young people, older people and those who don’t use a car https://www.uplift.ie/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/MyUplift-banner-politician-SVG.svg

The road is a danger to all and most especially our pedestrians and cyclists. The surveys are done the measurements taken. We need contractors on the ground to make the road safe for all.

Older people need assistance getting to and from their local social hubs. We want to see older people using Community Cafe's, Libraries and Community Centres more.

If we are to encourage our population to use public transport more, it is important that it is comfortable for everybody. Listening to a device without earphones is inconsiderate and selfish. Irish Rail have already made efforts to stamp out this behaviour. Let's try to bring some calm to our other transport providers, Dublin Bus, Bus Eireann etc. I think the offenders don't even realise they are effecting other passengers. If there was a little sticker posted on the bus/luas/DARTetc, for all to see, it would serve as a gentle nudge to remind people of their manners

An Post were amazing during the pandemic and really showed how they could improve the lives of the more vulnerable in our community. They offered free postage for Packets up to 2KG to Nursing Homes. This enabled carepack.ie to leverage the humanity all across Ireland to get 13,000 Gifts to residents in 2020 and 20,000 to residents in 2021. The Service halted in March 2022 , but we would love to see it back again , please !