Plans for Ireland's first Climate Change Park in Skibbereen

A new proposal speadheaded by Declan Waugh founder of a not-for-profit climate change initiative
Partnership for Change and Director of EnviroManagement Services is set to influence how Ireland responds to the treat of climate change and flood risk management.

Mr Waugh an Environmental Scientist and Chartered Water and Environmental Manager has prepared a draft design for the creation of Irelands first climate change park to be created in the town of Skibbereen.

The proposal could see the creation of a climate change park that would create a floodplain to increase flood water storage and the resilience of the Ilen River to floods. The proposal would also see the creation of new amenities for the town that would be transformational in their design, supporting the principles of sustainability, increasing biodiversity and enhancing the urban built environment by providing an inspirational green space for the community.



The project designer Mr Waugh said “the park can provide an example of how green spaces can be enhanced to cope with climate change providing sustainable drainage systems that can help deliver natural flood management while also offering much needed tourism and amenity benefits to the town of Skibbereen”

Mr Waugh, recipient of the 2009 Cork Environmental Forum environmental person of the year award is a member of the Bandon Flood Task Group and Environmental pillar representative on the Cork County Council’s Strategic Planning Committee. He recently prepared and funded a detailed socio-economic assessment template for Bandon town to examine the impacts of the recent floods in addition to presenting a comprehensive examination to Engineers Ireland and Cork Environmental Forum on the Bandon River Catchment and flood risk management. The presentation included a review of the planning history, recent developments on floodplains, water catchment management and the role of professionals in particular engineers in planning cases and is available to view freely on the www.partnershipforchange.ie

Declan said “following on from this presentation I also wished to provide whatever assistance I could to the community of Skibbereen which suffered devastating floods on two occasions last year. The climate change environmental park was something that was always on my mind and following discussions with some members of the community I decided to put these ideas down on paper for circulation and wider consultation”.

Since preparing the draft he has circulated the proposal and design to the head of flood risk management of the OPW, the County Manager Mr. Martin Riordan, Minister for Environment John Gormley, Minister for Sustainability Ciaran Cuffe, the EPA, An Taisce, Skibbereen Business Association, West Cork Development Partnership, West Cork Tourism, Skibbereen lions Club, the River Ilen planning project liason executive, local TD’s and elected officials.


While Declan is still waiting on responses from various parties the head of the OPW Flood Risk Management Division Mark Adamson observed that "this is an excellent proposal, well aligned with the catchment-based approach to flood risk management, the concepts of managing flood risk (rather than solely relying on flood prevention) and the principles of the Guidelines on the Planning System and Flood Risk Management" and has forwarded it through his offices to the OPW engineers addressing the current flood management plans for Skibbereen.

While last years flooding may have been exceptional recent extreme weather experiences in West Cork, particularly in Skibbereen and Bandon, have highlighted the urgency to plan and prepare for future risk scenarios, especially the management of water and urban flooding. “We must not become complacent, the issue of flood risk management has not gone away” said Mr Waugh. “While we have enjoyed some wonderful weather this past month we must be reminded that other communities across Europe and worldwide have suffered catastrophic flooding and loss of life during the same period”

While thankfully no lives were lost in Ireland during the flooding of last November last month 20 people drowned as a consequence of flash flooding in France. In May 20 people drowned in Poland and a state of emergency was declared with flood waters up to 10 feet recorded as far as 3 miles from the banks of some rivers. Similar devastation was experienced in Hungary, Slovakia and Czech Republic. In the past week flash floods in China have killed up to 200 people and more than 10 million people have also lost property, been injured or suffered a cut in power or water supplies as a result of the week of torrential rain. The flooding also raising concerns on food security with 1.24m acres of crops affected in China alone. This week in Brazil torrential rain devastated towns and cities in the north east where up to 1000 people are missing now presumed drowned and 120,000 people were forced to evacuate their homes due to flash flooding.

According to Mr Waugh “it is imperative that as a society we learn from our experiences and act now to protect our communities from future flooding. The needs of individuals and communities such as Skibbereen who have suffered flooding and continue to be a high risk of future flooding must be urgently assessed”

This proposal if adopted could make a real difference on the ground, improving the quality of people’s lives and helping to sustain the vitality and vibrancy of the Skibbereen town. Mr. Waugh has acted expeditiously and generously to provide assistance for the towns of Skibbereen and Bandon, it is now up to the public to come bring these proposals to the next stage. It is intended that a public meeting will take place in the West Cork Hotel over the summer months to build support around the Climate Change and Environmental Park only by working together as a community can we deliver long-term, sustainable flood risk protection for Skibbereen and West Cork.

River of Opportunity, Environmental Park for Flood Plain Management in Skibbereen

If I may please let me outline my views on flood management in Skibbereen and my vision for an Environmental Park in the marsh area of the town; a project that aims to protect the town from future flooding while providing an innovative community space that would transform Skibbereen into a model for sustainable development.

This approach to the flood management of Skibbereen looks to open up new management options that explore the potential for innovative partnerships between the Planning Authority, the Office of Public Works as well as environmental and community groups.

The concept must be a community lead approach accommodating flood defence with environmental protection while simultaneously enhancing the urban environment.

With environmentally sympathetic designs, radical concepts, technological interventions and a shift in perception we can create an environment that will serve to both protect and enhance the town of Skibbereen while also creating a unique sense of place for the community and visitor.

CREATING PLACES NOT EMPTY SPACES

The area of the marsh can be developed to create a new meeting ground between nature and people in creating a new vision for Skibbereen.

It can involve the transformation of the town providing an educational, recreational and amenity area for the community. The whole area could include an amphitheatre, walking areas, community gardens, public walkways, streams, constructed wetlands and outdoor spaces that integrate the town with nature while offering a unique long term protection to the town from future risk of flooding and sea level risk.

The development plan would include riverside seating, picnic areas and allow for public works of art within the public realm while also providing an array of natural environments from constructed wetlands to woodland, meadows, marshland and shallow and deep ponds with varying aquatic margins.

RIVER OF OPPORTUNITY

Land and water are intrinsically linked and nowhere more so than in Skibbereen where the River Ilen meanders its way to the sea. Preserving the riverside land areas is not only crucial to future generations but also to the long term sustainability of the town.

The core aims of any flood management plan must be first and foremost the protection of Skibbereen from future flooding. Secondly, the creation of an innovative community space that will provide new amenities for the town, and also offer alternative landscapes that will be a visitor attraction while developing a new pedestrian gateway to the town of Skibbereen.

The ability of this new park to meet the urgent needs of the town to alleviate flooding while aspiring to be something of wider importance is a key starting point to the Enviro Park vision.

INTELLIGENT DESIGN

The site would be set out in various sections to provide a multifunctional park, creating new open public spaces, fulfilling the need for additional car parking spaces, while allowing a variety of amenity uses, nature conservation and community gardens. The themes of environment and sustainability in the 21^st century are appropriate to underpin such multi-facetted proposals applicable as it is to all society.

A diverse landscape of hills, valleys, waterbodies, woodland, and open fields can give a variety of habitats and enclosure providing opportunities for recreation, relaxation, inspiration, sculpture, craft, wildlife trails, fitness trails, adventure play, walks, meeting and performance space with an integrated drainage system to protect the town from future floods. Ideas could include, trail bike riding areas a skateboarding arena, public amphitheatre, a famine commemoration park, a mini golf or pitch and putt course providing a variety of themes and uses while also promoting Skibbereen as a visitor attraction.

Its immediate proximity to the town offers enormous opportunities in particular the potential to refocus the town on the river and its immediate environment. The local community and the town stand to benefit greatly from such an inclusive vision for a new Enviro Park while also giving the potential for a new focus for the southern part of the town.

The park needs to be multifunctional, providing flood relief while also offering new opportunities to culturally enhance the town and improve its environment. Such a park would illustrate the human ability to reciprocate with nature.

The methodology of creating an Enviro Park must be one of inclusive community involvement in designing, implementation and managing elements within it.

BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE

Firstly, as follows is a conceptual outline for the Enviro Park.

Funding from the OPW for flood relief study should be used to fund the production of a feasibility study that would include consultation with the local authority, landowners, business associations, community groups, schools and environmental interest groups.

The next phase of the plan’s implementation would involve constructing river embankments to act as flood water retainers. The design of the embankments would include a number of automated sluice gates to redirect flood waters within the Enviro Park when the town is at risk of flooding.

The ground level within the park would be reduced and designed to retain substantial volumes of water by creating a series of undulating low hills and valleys. The existing pumping station on the lands would be re-designed and equipped to allow for dewatering the Park when flood waters reside in the river Ilen.

LOCAL ENHANCEMENT

The extended park can be accessed by four bridges, with the new pedestrian bridge acting as the focal point for pedestrian entry into the town. Limited parking could be provided on raised parking lots thereby securing additional parking for the town.

The Enviro Park would be the first of its kind in Ireland reshaping and redesigning Skibbereen for the 21^st Century. This unique opportunity has the potential to create activities for old and young that will draw people to the park and the town while providing new visitor attractions for Skibbereen.

I believe, that the way in which we as a community design and ultimately use these lands will be a defining moment for planning in Ireland. The very future of the town depends on it. As a community we must face up to the challenges and risks that will impact on the town and none is more alarming than climate change, flooding and the inevitability of sea level rises in the coming decades.

This concept offers the possibility for the community of Skibbereen to engage with nature, rather than fight against it. It requires imagination, community inspiration and co-operation with nature.

ON THE WATERFRONT

What if in the future the predictions of climate change are correct and we will witness sea level rise, continued and increased flooding and extreme weather events such as the extreme flooding of 2009. If history is anything to go by, we will be ready for neither unless we learn from our mistakes and design innovative solutions now to work with nature and support our communities.

The idea that future sea levels will rise is now a certainty; this will impact on coastal and inland tidal river communities such as Skibbereen which has an established history of flooding.

How could the landscape look if the urban area was designed to help alleviate future flooding? The future scenario is particularly relevant now to Skibbereen as it’s commences yet another flood impact study and attempts to design future flood alleviation for the town.

It is my belief that the conversion of the marsh area into an innovative EnviroPark could achieve just this and breathe new life into Skibbereen.

AFTER THE FLOODS

We don’t have to cast our minds back that far to remember the extraordinarily difficult circumstances that Skibbereen was in twenty years ago when it had the largest level of emigration of any community in Ireland. I have been privileged to have a long association with the town and remember the terrible floods in 1987 that closed some businesses permanently such as the wholesale shrubbery and nursery business which was located on the marsh.

We are now in the grips of another major recession, one that may last longer and have deeper social and economic implications for this country and particularly the younger generation who are faced with little prospect of employment. On top of that we have witnessed major social and economic impacts associated with extreme weather events on a scale not previously experienced in this country in the past century. Catastrophic flooding was experienced across Ireland and in particular in Skibbereen, Bandon and Cork City. The cost to the insurance industry for the recent unprecedented flooding and extremely cold spell that Ireland endured was in excess of €550 million. T his figure does not portray the true economic cost in jobs and added indebtedness to businesses and householders for repair and renovation to damaged property and many of them will be unable to get insurance in the future.

Enormous and painful lessons are being learned, we are dealing with people and communities and must protect ourselves from the destructive power of nature which we cannot control.

If we want a future for Skibbereen town, we must be creative. If we want to protect our community from future flooding, we must provide innovative and cost-effective solutions to manage the environment in a more sustainable manner.

ON THE EDGE OF POSSIBILITY

The risks associated with flooding in Skibbereen offer what is probably the greatest new landscape opportunity of our generation.

To reduce vulnerability and future risks of flooding we must seize the opportunity to redesign urban spaces, to work with nature and to forge innovative lasting solutions that build a sustainable future.

I believe that the development of an Environmental Park could provide a showcase for creative, innovative, urban landscape flood alleviation design.

Objection to Proposed Retail Commercial Development on a Flood Plain in Skibbereen Town

MAIN GROUNDS OF OBJECTION

The full grounds of objection together with the arguments, reasons and considerations upon which these are based are set out below. For clarity and ease of reference we propose to deal with each individual element of the grounds for our clients’ objection and outline our response to each in turn.

2.1 Development on Floodplain

We respectfully submit that a moratorium on any such development should exist until the Office of Public Works (OPPW) complete the flood impact assessment and alleviation plan for the town of Skibbereen.

It is clear that the proposed site is located on a flood plain and under no circumstances should planning and development be considered until a thorough appraisal of the potential impact of such a development on a flood plain is examined in light of recent flooding of the town and in particular in the absence of OPW flood mitigation works for the town of Skibbereen. The applicants have clearly failed to address this major planning consideration in their application.

The Draft Planning System and Flood Risk Management Guidelines require the planning system at national, regional and local levels to:

• avoid development in areas at risk of flooding, such as floodplains, unless there are wider sustainability grounds that justify appropriate development; and where the flood risk can be reduced or managed to an acceptable level without increasing flood risk elsewhere;
• adopt a sequential approach to flood risk management and guide development away from areas that have been identified as being at risk through flood risk assessment. In areas of high risk, for example, you should see water-compatible developments such as docks and marinas, amenity open space, outdoor sports and recreation, while other more vulnerable development should be directed towards areas of minimal or no flood risk.
• incorporate flood risk assessment into the process of making decisions on planning applications and planning appeals.

We respectfully submit that the applicants have clearly failed to address these issues in their application.

2.2 Traffic Implications

Such a large scale development will attract large volumes of car-borne customers and require a high quality road network with spare capacity. Furthermore, it is clear that the proposed mixed-use retail and commercial development will result in traffic that would result in significant traffic congestion at the already busy access and link road to Skibbereen town as well as within the town centre.

The planning application has not examined the traffic implications and existing infrastructure to support this development.

The site of the proposed development does not serve the mobility needs of the wider community including the needs of pedestrian shoppers. No traffic mobility assessment has been undertaken for the proposed development which must ensure a high standard of access both by public transport, foot and private car so that the proposal is easily accessible by all sections of society, especially those that do not have access to a private car and of course the elderly.

This is particularly relevant where the site does not provide for public bus set-down or bus service in the vicinity of the proposed development. The site is neither accessible nor convenient for public transport facilities and contrary to the information provided in the planning report submitted, the site is located approximately 700m from the established town centre not less than 200m.

The applicants have clearly misrepresented the distance of the site for the proposed development from the established town centre. The established guidelines clearly state that the distance considered to be convenient for such a development is unlikely to be much more than 300-400 metres from the edge of the prime shopping area. The applicants have clearly failed to address these issues in their application.

Prior to even considering such a development a thorough traffic mobility and impact assessment must be undertaken in addition to a socio-economic impact assessment of the impact of such a development on the viability of the town centre to survive such a development.

The proposal is likely to result in a back-up of traffic onto the access road in and out of the retail development as well as onto the link road and roundabout thereby obstructing the free flow of traffic at this location and endangering public safety by reason of traffic hazard.

The applicants have clearly failed to address this issue in their application.

We further respectively submit that in the absence of a traffic impact assessment or mobility management plan for such a large-scale commercial retail development the planning application should be refused.

2.3 Retail Impact

It is our respectful submission that the applicants have failed to provide any reasonable grounds that would allow the Planning Authority to grant permission for the proposed development. We respectfully contend that the submitted documents do not demonstrate the true impact of the proposed development on the established commercial business centre of the town and local stores within the catchment area and the materially negative impact that the proposal will have on the business community which has already been substantially degraded in recent years due to the economic recession.

We respectfully submit that the assessment of current retail provision for the town is based on the Cork Strategic Retail Study, a survey of existing retail floor space conducted in the summer of 2007. The report does not examine the level of empty commercial retail space currently in the town and the impact of the proposed development on the remaining established businesses.

We respectfully submit that the retail impact assessment has based current expenditure in the town at 2006 levels set during the height of the economic boom in Ireland and is not based on current expenditure during the worst economic downturn in the history of the state. The applicants have clearly failed to address this issue in their application.

We respectfully submit that the retail impact assessment has not examined the cumulative impact of the proposed development with other recent retail developments such as Lidl on the commercial town centre. We respectfully submit that the cumulative impact would cause an adverse impact on the commercial viability and vitality of the town centre sufficient to undermine the quality of the town centre or its role in the economic ands social life of the community. Furthermore, the creation of 490 additional car parking spaces at this location outside the town would clearly not serve the need of the town centre as a whole but rather the exclusive use of this development. The introduction of pay parking in the town would subsequently encourage business drift from the town centre to where free parking was available and further commercially damage the viability of the established town centre businesses leading to inevitable closure and increased economic hardship for the business community in an already deepening period of economic recession. The applicants have clearly failed to address this issue in their application.

We respectfully submit that the proposed development does not support the development of the town centre as a viable business centre, does not address the current problems facing business in the commercial town centre nor present a realistic vision of how the community want the town centre to be developed.

We respectfully submit that the proposed development must be based on realistic appraisal of the need for such a development and the impact of such a development on existing businesses within the town.

In dealing with these matters, the Planning Authority should take account of the views of retailers, shoppers, property owners and the National Roads Authority. We respectfully submit that no such consultation has been undertaken. The purpose of the planning system includes the promotion of healthy town centres in the public interest. We respectfully submit that the proposed development does not support this objective.

In submitting evidence in relation to retail impact the applicant is required to address the following criteria and demonstrate whether or not the proposal would:

• Support the long-term strategy for town centres as established in the development plan and not materially diminish the prospect of attracting private sector investment into one or more town centres.
• Cause an adverse impact on one or more town centres, either singly or cumulatively with recent developments or other outstanding planning permissions, sufficient to undermine the quality of the centre or its role in the economic and social life of the community.
• Diminish the range of activities and services that a town centre can support.
• Cause an increase in the number of vacant properties in the primary retail area that is likely to persist in the long term.
• Ensure a high standard of access both by public transport, foot and private car so that the proposal is easily accessible by all sections of society.
• Link effectively with an existing town centre so that there is likely to be commercial synergy.

We respectfully submit that the proposed development does not comply with these criteria. The proposed development will not support the long-term strategy for town centres, will materially diminish private sector investment into the town centre, will cause adverse impact on one or more town centres in West Cork, will undermine the commercial viability of the town centre and its role in the economic and social life of the community.

We respectfully submit that the proposed development will diminish the range of activities and services that a town centre can support and cause an increase in the number of vacant properties in the primary retail area that is likely to persist in the long-term.

We respectfully submit that the proposed development does not provide a high standard of access both by public transport, foot and private car so that the proposal is easily accessible by all sections of society.

We respectfully submit that the proposed development does not link effectively with an existing town centre so that there is likely to be commercial synergy.

We respectfully submit that there is a significant unused retail space in the town at present and that the market cannot support the proposed development.

We respectfully submit that the proposed development will support the development of an unacceptable local monopoly effect on smaller retail shops in the established commercial town centre.

We respectfully submit that this proposal will clearly have a detrimental impact on the provision of services in the established town centre and is therefore inappropriate development for the sustainable development of the town.

In assessing the need for additional development as proposed it is important that the assessments are based on a realistic appraisal of both expenditure change and market requirements. Plans should be based on up-to-date information regarding existing retail floorspace and shopping patterns in the area.

We respectfully submit that the applicants have clearly failed to address these issues in their application. Furthermore, the development of additional large-scale regional retail centres on greenfield sites or outside established centres is not regarded as sustainable in relation to transport objectives. Consequently, there should be a general presumption against large-scale out-of-centre retail development such as that proposed.

We respectfully submit that the proposed development would be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.

2.4 Critical Infrastructure:

We respectfully submit that a moratorium on any such development should exist until the critical waste management infrastructure is provided for the town of Skibbereen.

We respectfully submit that the planning application has not examined the potential pollution load from such a development “population equivalent load’.

We respectfully submit that where no sewage treatment works have been built for the town there is an inability to treat the wastes arising.

We respectfully submit that the implications for waste management, in particular foul sewage treatment and storm water run-off have not been addressed.

We respectfully submit that major developments such as that proposed should not be permitted where the waste water treatment infrastructure is not available.

2.5 Planning precedent

We respectfully submit that there is a clear and unambiguous precedent set for the determination of the proposed development by the Planning Authority. An Bord Pleanála and Planning Authorities have refused a number of applications for developments on floodplains around the country, which should act as precedent for the refusal of the proposed development. Where planning was granted for such a development it would introduce a risk of potential liability on behalf of the Planning Authority for future damage.

2.6 Environmental Assessment

We respectfully submit that no environmental assessment has been undertaken on the site to establish the likely impact of the proposed development on the environment.

Factors such as biodiversity, species or flora and fauna on the site have not been examined.

No ambient noise assessment has been undertaken to examine the likely impact of the development on neighboring residential houses.

We respectfully submit that planning should be refused in light of the inadequacy of information provided.

3. CONCLUSION

The proposed development is located on a floodplain and was under several feet of water during the November 2009 flood of Skibbereen. We respectfully submit that a moratorium on any such development should exist until the OPW complete the flood impact assessment and alleviation plan for the town of Skibbereen.

The proposal will have an adversely negative impact on the existing established commercial town centre. The site location of the proposed development is in excess of 700m from the commercial town centre and is not accessible nor convenient for public transport facilities. The site of the proposed development does not serve the mobility needs of the wider community including the needs of pedestrian shoppers. We respectfully submit that a moratorium on any such development should exist until the critical waste management infrastructure is provided for the town of Skibbereen. We respectfully submit that the implications for waste management, in particular foul sewage treatment and storm water run-off have not been addressed for the development. We respectfully submit that major developments such as that proposed should not be permitted where the waste water treatment infrastructure is not available.

No traffic impact assessment has been provided for the proposed development. The creation of 490 additional car parking spaces at this location outside the town would clearly not serve the need of the town centre as a whole but rather the exclusive use of this development.

The introduction of pay-parking in the town would subsequently encourage business drift from the town centre to where free parking was available and further commercially damage the viability of the established town centre businesses leading to inevitable closure and increased economic hardship for the business community in an already deepening period of economic recession.

The proposal is likely to result in a back-up of traffic onto the access road in and out of the retail development as well as onto the link road and roundabout thereby obstructing the free flow of traffic at this location and endangering public safety by reason of traffic hazard.

We request the Planning Authority to conclude therefore that the proposal is contrary to the provisions of sections 90-95 of the Retail Planning Guidelines and therefore not in the interest of the proper planning and sustainable development of the area nor in the interest of the common good.

The application has failed to address our clients’ concerns in terms of its material impact on the viability of the existing commercial town centre and their associated stores, as well as its cumulative negative impact, due to its direct association with the Lidl supermarket, located outside the town centre. The proposal will adversely impact on the residential community adjacent to the development creating the potential for ambient light and noise nuisance. Furthermore, factors such as biodiversity, species or flora and fauna on the site have not been examined.

For all of the above reasons, to permit the proposed development would be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area including the protection of amenities therein.

We therefore respectfully request that Cork County Council refuse this current application on the grounds set out above.

Yours sincerely

Declan Waugh BSc. C.WEM. CEnv. MCIWEM. MIEMA. MCIWM. MIOA. Grad EI. ALI

EnviroManagement Services

TEDxWestCork - Declan Waugh - 04/17/10

NAMA; THE FRANKENSTEIN OF IRISH POLITICS

Ireland’s fascination with property and politics is matched only by its massive confusion of attitudes towards it. Our desire to own property must be linked inextricably with our history; one of plantations, occupation, evictions, penal servitude, migration and emigration.

The experiences of our forefathers must somehow remain in our genetic DNA that the Irish psyche over the past two generations remains so focused on owning property regardless of the financial and emotional pain that is inflicted on mortgage sufferers and society. Many people, in their quest for owning property and providing a home, thought they knew what they wanted but when they got it realised something else was missing; a community, proper infrastructure, schools, access to amenities, buses, shops and playgrounds. The long-term implications of the housing bubble, including living in the far-reaching commuter belt of cities with a lack of community facilities, building on flood plains and the lack of proper planning and development that have accompanied it, will be examined for generations to come in the wake of the Celtic tiger.

The roots of the recent property bubble lie in the collaboration by many professions, from bankers, developers, politicians, economists, planning consultants, farmers and landowners to journalists, media professionals and ordinary members of the public. They created the conditions for the greatest financial fraud and community disservice in the history of this country and the Frankenstein financial situation we now face. The price for Cromwell’s settlement and forfeiture of 2,000,000 acres of Irish land was the dismantling of the irish economy and the relocation of thousands to west of the Shannon; the price for the Celtic Tiger we have yet to fully understand but like Cromwell it involved relocating and condemning tens of thousands of people into “development lands” with little infrastructure or prospects of sustainable employment and ultimately the imploding of the Irish economy.

We have witnessed over the past ten years catastrophic mismanagement of our economy. We have sold our souls to the devil and in the process brought this country to economic ruin. The truth is we are all guilty, some obviously more so than others. We have all been involved in the economic meltdown through our political affiliations, trade unions, business or commercial dealings; society universally bought into a giant pyramid scheme that has resulted ultimately in the financial collapse of our nation’s finances.

So is it right to blame our politicians? If so, who would have thought that the individuals right to vote would have such enormous power over our collective futures?

What we have witnessed over the recent years is a catastrophic failure of the political system in this country to face up to their collective responsibilities. Our political system relies on one basic imperative - the need to protect the political party and get re-elected. The Irish voter was willingly coerced into believing in a future that did not exist. Eventually the means of securing re-election by buying favour with the voters for short-term gain has finally come home to roost.

The wider legacies around which the current government and by and large the opposition parties have survived and sought power have been based on continued economic growth regardless of the long-term socio-economic or environmental impacts of their policies. This is no more evident than in the financial mismanagement of this nation over the past ten years. Fianna Fail now alienated and largely despised by the public were the most popular political party in the history of the state. They have remained the party of government for most of the past twenty-one years, eighteen long years to be precise.

FF’s durability in office in recent years is due in large part to the willingness of smaller political parties to share power in coalition thereby ensuring the continued domination of FF in Irish politics. In the end the smaller parties have always paid the price. There was always a substantial proportion of the population who were opposed to the policies of FF and they did not forget the betrayal of the smaller parties, waiting in the long grass to cast their vote of disapproval.

This occurred with the Labour Party, the Progressive Democrats and now the Green Party are exposed to the same recriminations. This is indeed ironic for the Green Party, for above all others they were the one political party that exposed the weaknesses of these same policies over their entire time in opposition. In recent coalition governments, the smaller party always saw themselves as the party of reform and watchdog over the excesses of FF. Their excesses were, as we now know only too well, never curbed. Their policies perpetuated a political and planning system bereft of the principles of sustainable development, that resulted in the monopolistic excesses that we now witness in NAMA and the billions of euros of bad debts held by a handful of powerful people.

Now the Minister for Finance, Brian Lenihan has informed the nation that the state are buying €81 billion of toxic assets from the nations banks. So far the total cost of bailing out Anglo Irish Bank is €22.3 billion, what was a private bank for the wealthy and powerful has now become a financial black hole for the Irish economy. How did this happen?

In 2008, Cohen and Lenihan, backed by a discredited economics profession, assorted lobbyists, the construction industry, the discredited financial regulator and chief executives of Irish Banks, terrified the Government into providing a state guarantee for all deposits in Irish banks, singling out Anglo Irish Bank in particular, handing over billions of euros to provide short-term liquidity and nationalizing a private bank Anglo Irish Bank “in the national interest”. The Irish public has not yet grasped the nature and extent of this crime.

Brian Lehihan stated in the Dail this week that the former financial regulator had failed abysmally in their responsibilities. In December last year the Governor of the Irish Central Bank, Patrick Honohan, said that “ignorance and inattention” were at the heart of regulatory failure in Ireland. The question begs as to ignorance and inattention by whom? By our government and its appointees to position of power in this country including the previous finance Minster and financial regulator?

The Financial Regulator, Mr. Leary, the man who oversaw the culture of “ignorance and inattention” took early retirement and received a lump sum of €390,000 and an annual pension of €130,000 as part of his retirement package. Another taxpayer bailout and job well done with no accountability and no penalty for professional misconduct. Meanwhile Fianna Fail, the party of government that oversaw this mismanagement, ineptitude and incompetence of government at best and criminal behavior at worst, remain in power.

The consequences of their actions is that the innocent will pay for the sins of the guilty as the financial system crashes in on itself. We are now a nation of financial slaves. Those who conjured up this financial Frankenstein seek to be rescued from themselves by us the taxpayer who as ordinary people will be left to suffer the most from their mismanagement.

The root of this financial breakdown lies in the machinery of powerful lobbyists, bankers and developers, and its use of our political system as a powerful tool for and self-enrichment. When one says that money is power, one is simultaneously saying that money is political. The existence of the FF tent at the Galway races over the boom years of the Celtic Tiger says it all. The secret deals and private meetings for cash with leading politicians and political parties, from former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to corporate donations to political parties set in motion a political system and parliament for sale to the highest bidder.

What is the result of all of this? We are now entering the period of the second Great Depression. Our banks are insolvent and some of our leading companies linked to these same financial institutions are also insolvent. The high court decision to appoint provisional administrators to Quinn Insurance was based on the financial regulator’s very serious concern that Quinn Insurance was unable to meet its liabilities to policyholders. This may in some way explain the delay policy holders have faced in receiving insurance compensation for the recent flooding in November last. It may also explain why Lehihan nationalized Anglo Irish Bank of which Quinn was a major shareholder.

Before this Government falls as indeed it surely will, there are two critical items that must be addressed, both of which are part of the revised Program for Government, the first is the new Planning Bill which will circumvent the role of local councilors rezoning lands for developers and the second is outlawing corporate donations to political parties. This is the legacy that the Green Party could leave for the betterment of Irish politics and society. However, neither time nor public opinion is on their side. They better work fast, the voters are waiting in the long grass and they won’t forget, they never will.

In his biography of Oliver Cromwell, John Morley assesses Cromwell’s place in Irish history in these words: “...to everyone it will at least be intelligible how his name has come to be hated in the tenacious heart of Ireland. What is called his settlement aggravated Irish misery to a degree that cannot be measured, and before the end of a single generation events at Limerick and the Boyne showed how hollow and ineffectual, as well as how mischievous, the Cromwellian settlement had been.”

What will future historians write about Fianna Fail, the celtic tiger years and the Frankenstein called NAMA they created.

UN World Water Day

Date: 22nd March, 2010
Time: 8.00pm


Venue: Rochestown Park Hotel, Cork


Admission:

Free. All welcome

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is coordinating the organization of the World Water Day 2010 campaign on behalf of UN-Water and in collaboration with FAO, UNDP, UNECE, UNICEF, UNESCO, UN-Habitat, WHO, and the UN-Water Decade Programme on Advocacy and Communication as well as with partner organizations such as International Water Association, World Wide Fund for Nature, World Water Council and Cork Environmental Forum.

March 22^nd 2010 will mark a global event on water management with events and presentations taking place throughout across the planet in every continent. Cork Environmental Forum in association with Engineers Ireland are hosting a water seminar at Rochestown Park Hotel, Cork.

About the speakers:

Declan Waugh, Director EnviroManagement Services and founder of Partnership for Change, has twenty years experience in environmental management, research, impact assessment, environmental auditing and risk assessment, waste management, planning and development, contaminated site investigation and management of environmental risk. He has spent ten years working in environmental management of the mining industry and ten years working as an environmental consultant managing a wide variety of infrastructure projects and green tech projects in addition to being a noted environmental researcher. The title of his presentation is ‘Flood risk management: An examination of the Bandon Flood event of Nov 19th 2009 including land use planning and disaster management’.

Weather, climate and water resources can have a devastating impact on socio-economic development and on the well-being of humankind. According to the World Meteorological Organization weather and climate-related extreme events, such as tornadoes, thunderstorms, storms, cyclones, floods and drought, account for nearly 75 per cent of all disasters. They can lead to an enormous toll of human suffering, loss of life, infrastructure and economic damage. How we monitor these events, try and predict their occurrence and ultimately plan and prepare for extreme weather events and issuing timely warnings are essential to mitigate the disastrous impact of such events on a population and economy.

Declan’s presentation will examine what we may have learnt from the recent extreme flooding which occurred in November 2009, an event that caused enormous social and economic impact on both urban and rural communities across Ireland.

Tony Cain, principal of H2O Consult, has 20 years experience in the design and construction of sewerage systems in the UK and Ireland. He has particular experience in the hydraulic analysis and detailed design of sustainable drainage systems and road drainage systems and was the drainage design manager for a €1 billion programme of road construction works in Ireland including N6, N7 and the M50PPP project. He has recently set-up his own company, H2O Consult, to deliver sustainable water management solutions in Ireland. He is also a member of the management committee of Cork Environmental Forum and has recently been nominated by SWAN for appointment to the South West River Basin District Management Plan Advisory Council. The title of his presentation is ‘Sustainable drainage systems and rainwater harvesting: An overview of the types, design, environmental benefits of SUDS and rainwater harvesting systems’.

Contact: Kevin Murray, chair, Cork region
E: bellagiokm@gmail.com

Note: This event is run in association with Cork Environmental Forum.

Biofuels and Food Security

An internal report by the World Bank on the link between biofuels and food prices argues that the drive for biofuels by American and European governments has pushed up food prices by 75% in stark contrast with U.S claims that using crops for fuel, rather than food, has only pushed prices up by 2-3%.

All other factors including rising demand for food from China and India, back-to-back droughts in Australia had only a marginal impact on food prices according to the report.

The reports states that without the increase in biofuels, global wheat and maize stocks would not have declined appreciably and price increases due to other factors would have been moderate.

The rise in prices has caused food riots in several countries and lead to banning of grain and other food exports. The implication of this report, then, is that crop-derived fuels have been the ultimate cause of food riots, starvation and high prices around the world.

The World Bank’s index of food prices increased 140 percent from January 2002 to February 2008. This increase was caused by a confluence of factors but the most important was the large increase in biofuels production in the U.S and EU. Without the increase in biofuels, global wheat and maize stocks would not have declined appreciably and price increases due to other factors would have been moderate.

The combination of higher energy prices and related increases in fertilizer prices, the decline in the dollar caused food prices to increase by about 35 % from the January 2002 until Feb 2008 and the remaining three quarters of the 140 percent actual increase was due to biofuels.

One-quarter of all the maize and other grain crops grown in the US now ends up as biofuel in cars rather than being used to feed people. Increased biofuel production has increased demand for food crops and been the major cause of the increase in food prices. Allmost all of the increase in global maize production from 2004 to 2007 went for biofuels in the U.S and the net effect was that the increase in global consumption fro the other uses came from stocks. Global maize production increased 55 million tons from 2004 to 2007 according to the USDA and biofuels use in the U.S increased 50 million tons. Global consumption for all other uses increased 33 million tons, which caused global to decline by 27 million tons and maize prices to more than double. Maize for biofuels accounted for 25 percent of U.S production in the 2007/2008 crop year according to the USDA and 11 percent of global production.

The report concluded that rapid income growth in developing countries has not lead to large increases in global grain consumption and was not a major factor responsible for the large grain price increases.