@brendanmulligan56.bsky.social
Reposted
This is the key thing about nice small towns: it’s not the density, it’s the compactness
Increasingly convinced that we need to be doing more policy design not around density but around _compactness_ — land uses clustered together in a contiguous way. Which in turn makes it structurally possible to get between more places without a car
December 26, 2025 at 4:01 PM
This is the key thing about nice small towns: it’s not the density, it’s the compactness
This cause is close to my heart - please sign: my.uplift.ie/petitions/so... @uplift.ie
Solution not Pollution - Real Time Sewage Discharge Monitoring
Ireland Needs Real-Time Reporting of Sewer Discharges - Just Like the UK
Across Ireland, rivers, lakes, estuaries, bathing and coastal waters are being polluted by regular storm overflows and se...
my.uplift.ie
December 5, 2025 at 1:40 PM
This cause is close to my heart - please sign: my.uplift.ie/petitions/so... @uplift.ie
Reposted
Shameless Garda PR blitz links road deaths to visibility issues in cases where there is no link
Comment & Analysis: Sadly, I have to start this article by saying, for the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this article says 'don't be visible'. Lights are a legal requirement, and it'd be a good start…
Comment & Analysis: Sadly, I have to start this article by saying, for the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this article says 'don't be visible'. Lights are a legal requirement, and it'd be a good start…
Shameless Garda PR blitz links road deaths to visibility issues in cases where there is no link
Comment & Analysis: Sadly, I have to start this article by saying, for the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this article says 'don't be visible'. Lights are a legal requirement, and it'd be a good start if the Gardai enforced them, and people walking should take steps to be visible on unlit roads. I get it, nobody likes it when people are walking on unlit roads in the dark without lights and wearing dark clothing, and it's annoying when some cyclists think they are ninjas.
irishcycle.com
November 28, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Shameless Garda PR blitz links road deaths to visibility issues in cases where there is no link
Comment & Analysis: Sadly, I have to start this article by saying, for the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this article says 'don't be visible'. Lights are a legal requirement, and it'd be a good start…
Comment & Analysis: Sadly, I have to start this article by saying, for the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this article says 'don't be visible'. Lights are a legal requirement, and it'd be a good start…
I agree 100%. Light Rail would be transformational for Galway.
The Galway Luas will be a key part of Galway Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy (GMATS) and must be added to it during the next review.
Preferred route selection is the next step - moving these plans closer to reality.
@rodericogorman.bsky.social
Preferred route selection is the next step - moving these plans closer to reality.
@rodericogorman.bsky.social
November 28, 2025 at 9:21 PM
I agree 100%. Light Rail would be transformational for Galway.
Reposted
No problem shelving major public transport projects and defunding active travel — but a full photoshoot to reopen a few kilometres of tram track after an incident? Absolutely essential, apparently.
The mind truly boggles at this government’s sense of what matters.
The mind truly boggles at this government’s sense of what matters.
Why are they posing for this? 🙄
A small section of a tram line reopening after an incident doesn’t warrant a photoshoot with the Minister for Transport and the Lord Mayor.
A small section of a tram line reopening after an incident doesn’t warrant a photoshoot with the Minister for Transport and the Lord Mayor.
November 28, 2025 at 9:42 AM
No problem shelving major public transport projects and defunding active travel — but a full photoshoot to reopen a few kilometres of tram track after an incident? Absolutely essential, apparently.
The mind truly boggles at this government’s sense of what matters.
The mind truly boggles at this government’s sense of what matters.
Reposted
EU Housing Advisory Board’s report dropped today. Some solid proposals:
🏘️ Promote Cost Rental model
💶 'Site Value' Taxes
📖 Amend State aid rules
🌵 Limit speculation
🏡 Better, not less planning
Now, let’s act housing.ec.europa.eu/news/commiss...
🏘️ Promote Cost Rental model
💶 'Site Value' Taxes
📖 Amend State aid rules
🌵 Limit speculation
🏡 Better, not less planning
Now, let’s act housing.ec.europa.eu/news/commiss...
November 20, 2025 at 4:09 PM
EU Housing Advisory Board’s report dropped today. Some solid proposals:
🏘️ Promote Cost Rental model
💶 'Site Value' Taxes
📖 Amend State aid rules
🌵 Limit speculation
🏡 Better, not less planning
Now, let’s act housing.ec.europa.eu/news/commiss...
🏘️ Promote Cost Rental model
💶 'Site Value' Taxes
📖 Amend State aid rules
🌵 Limit speculation
🏡 Better, not less planning
Now, let’s act housing.ec.europa.eu/news/commiss...
A dirty little secret.
New CCAC #climate report covered on multiple RTÉ news bulletins just now, incl. Morning Ireland interview with chair, Marie Donnelly.
Total mentions of agriculture, Ireland’s largest source of emissions: zero.
Total mentions of agriculture, Ireland’s largest source of emissions: zero.
November 13, 2025 at 4:30 PM
A dirty little secret.
Reposted
The Dutch Gov argued that it can't take action until the #ICJ issues its final ruling on the matter, but the court said the Dutch state’s obligation to take measures to prevent “(further) genocide” would be “of little practical use” if the Netherlands had to wait for the ICJ's final ruling.
#Gaza
#Gaza
November 7, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Reposted
Oona Hathaway, president-elect of the American Society of International Law & a former Pentagon legal adviser, said the core of the postwar global order – the prohibition on taking land by force – was under unprecedented challenge in a “scary moment” for the world
www.theguardian.com/law/2025/nov...
www.theguardian.com/law/2025/nov...
Willing states must act to save international legal order, warns top academic
Yale professor says wars in Ukraine and Gaza and threats from Donald Trump risk the ‘total collapse’ of the global courts system
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Oona Hathaway, president-elect of the American Society of International Law & a former Pentagon legal adviser, said the core of the postwar global order – the prohibition on taking land by force – was under unprecedented challenge in a “scary moment” for the world
www.theguardian.com/law/2025/nov...
www.theguardian.com/law/2025/nov...
An excellent, fact-based article.
Amidst Gov's attempt to hijack the common good & ur #JR rights,a contrary perspective from me on what's happening
As always the @irishexaminer.bsky.social facilitates examination 😇👏
#accesstojustice
#aarhus
#eulaw
#courts
#judicialreview
#publicinterest
www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...
As always the @irishexaminer.bsky.social facilitates examination 😇👏
#accesstojustice
#aarhus
#eulaw
#courts
#judicialreview
#publicinterest
www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...
Judicial reviews serve the common good
Rather than castigating public-spirited ordinary people concerned by planning problems, the Government should focus on properly resourcing the planning and legal systems
www.irishexaminer.com
November 13, 2025 at 4:23 PM
An excellent, fact-based article.
Reposted
"The housing crisis poses an existential threat to our democracy, but so too does blunting one of the only tools we have to uphold the rule of law. We accept attacks to it at our peril" - Dr Orla Kelleher
www.irishlegal.com/articles/opi...
www.irishlegal.com/articles/opi...
Opinion: Beware of the judicial review red herring
Dr Orla Kelleher pushes back against the narrative that judicial reviews are to blame for the housing crisis. In recent weeks, journalists, developers, tech entrepreneurs, the Minister for the Environ...
www.irishlegal.com
November 12, 2025 at 12:42 PM
"The housing crisis poses an existential threat to our democracy, but so too does blunting one of the only tools we have to uphold the rule of law. We accept attacks to it at our peril" - Dr Orla Kelleher
www.irishlegal.com/articles/opi...
www.irishlegal.com/articles/opi...
Reposted
Local authorities and State agencies are practised masters at uttering and amplifying the rhetoric which they regard as necessary for promoting and justifying road construction projects. They will say whatever must be said in advance — and they will do nothing afterwards.
bsky.app/profile/cosa...
bsky.app/profile/cosa...
@olaln.bsky.social @irishdocsenv.bsky.social @tinydbass.bsky.social A claim repeatedly made by the NTA, TII, local authorities, elected representatives & various lobbyists is that road expansion is required to engineer modal shift.
TII was asked for evidence of same. They're still searching.
TII was asked for evidence of same. They're still searching.
November 8, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Local authorities and State agencies are practised masters at uttering and amplifying the rhetoric which they regard as necessary for promoting and justifying road construction projects. They will say whatever must be said in advance — and they will do nothing afterwards.
bsky.app/profile/cosa...
bsky.app/profile/cosa...
Reposted
Reminder regarding the above enquiry, originally submitted to TII on 7th Sept, sent on 22nd Oct.
No reply.
If measures such as congestion charging were enabled by construction of bypasses & ring roads, modal shift schemes would already exist.
They don't, which is why TII is silent on the matter.
No reply.
If measures such as congestion charging were enabled by construction of bypasses & ring roads, modal shift schemes would already exist.
They don't, which is why TII is silent on the matter.
November 8, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Reminder regarding the above enquiry, originally submitted to TII on 7th Sept, sent on 22nd Oct.
No reply.
If measures such as congestion charging were enabled by construction of bypasses & ring roads, modal shift schemes would already exist.
They don't, which is why TII is silent on the matter.
No reply.
If measures such as congestion charging were enabled by construction of bypasses & ring roads, modal shift schemes would already exist.
They don't, which is why TII is silent on the matter.
Reposted
The relentless State focus on increasing capacity for motor vehicles *inevitably* induces more demand.
This reality is reflected in hard statistics such as traffic volumes & vehicle km travelled. All increasing inexorably for decades.
There is no sign of major modal shift.
bsky.app/profile/olal...
This reality is reflected in hard statistics such as traffic volumes & vehicle km travelled. All increasing inexorably for decades.
There is no sign of major modal shift.
bsky.app/profile/olal...
The NTA’s 2024 Travel Survey is out.
Car use is rising. Active and public transport are stagnant.
The consequences aren’t future risks — they’re here, for our health and the planet.
And make no mistake: this isn’t policy failure. It’s policy intent, locally and nationally.
Car use is rising. Active and public transport are stagnant.
The consequences aren’t future risks — they’re here, for our health and the planet.
And make no mistake: this isn’t policy failure. It’s policy intent, locally and nationally.
November 8, 2025 at 9:05 AM
The relentless State focus on increasing capacity for motor vehicles *inevitably* induces more demand.
This reality is reflected in hard statistics such as traffic volumes & vehicle km travelled. All increasing inexorably for decades.
There is no sign of major modal shift.
bsky.app/profile/olal...
This reality is reflected in hard statistics such as traffic volumes & vehicle km travelled. All increasing inexorably for decades.
There is no sign of major modal shift.
bsky.app/profile/olal...
Reposted
In Galway County Council's (the applicant) reponse to An Coimisiun Pleanala on the Galway City Ring Road (Executive Summary of Part IV of 2025 Response) it is stated that "...the proposed N6 GCRR will: Enable demand management measures within the city like car free areas and congestion charges... "
"Shelters to protect the travelling public from the 243 days of rain in Galway a year was the solution which best suited this city."
archive.connachttribune.ie/congestion-c...
archive.connachttribune.ie/congestion-c...
November 7, 2025 at 11:45 PM
In Galway County Council's (the applicant) reponse to An Coimisiun Pleanala on the Galway City Ring Road (Executive Summary of Part IV of 2025 Response) it is stated that "...the proposed N6 GCRR will: Enable demand management measures within the city like car free areas and congestion charges... "
In Galway County Council's (the applicant) reponse to An Coimisiun Pleanala on the Galway City Ring Road (Executive Summary of Part IV of 2025 Response) it is stated that "...the proposed N6 GCRR will: Enable demand management measures within the city like car free areas and congestion charges... "
"Shelters to protect the travelling public from the 243 days of rain in Galway a year was the solution which best suited this city."
archive.connachttribune.ie/congestion-c...
archive.connachttribune.ie/congestion-c...
November 7, 2025 at 11:45 PM
In Galway County Council's (the applicant) reponse to An Coimisiun Pleanala on the Galway City Ring Road (Executive Summary of Part IV of 2025 Response) it is stated that "...the proposed N6 GCRR will: Enable demand management measures within the city like car free areas and congestion charges... "
Reposted
Solicitor @fplogue.bsky.social specialises in planning and environment litigation.
He said that a judicial review succeeding means a serious legal error has been made.
"If there's a very high success rate (of judicial reviews), that's a symptom of bad decision-making or bad applications."
He said that a judicial review succeeding means a serious legal error has been made.
"If there's a very high success rate (of judicial reviews), that's a symptom of bad decision-making or bad applications."
Despite the click-bait headline my contribution has been accurately reported in this piece by @eithnedodd.bsky.social unfortunately on the industry side the wool has been pulled over her eyes by the usual self-serving rhetoric
By way of followup a short 🧵
By way of followup a short 🧵
The rate of judicial review in Ireland is "off the charts," the Director of Housing and Planning at the Construction Industry Federation has said
November 2, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Solicitor @fplogue.bsky.social specialises in planning and environment litigation.
He said that a judicial review succeeding means a serious legal error has been made.
"If there's a very high success rate (of judicial reviews), that's a symptom of bad decision-making or bad applications."
He said that a judicial review succeeding means a serious legal error has been made.
"If there's a very high success rate (of judicial reviews), that's a symptom of bad decision-making or bad applications."
Reposted
Inter alia, a motorcyclist apparently doing 98 km/h on the R337 Kingston Road.
Still, could be worse.
It might have been an e-scooter rider exceeding 20 km/h.
Still, could be worse.
It might have been an e-scooter rider exceeding 20 km/h.
November 4, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Inter alia, a motorcyclist apparently doing 98 km/h on the R337 Kingston Road.
Still, could be worse.
It might have been an e-scooter rider exceeding 20 km/h.
Still, could be worse.
It might have been an e-scooter rider exceeding 20 km/h.
This is simply more deflection by An Taoiseach. It is the failure of successive FF & FF/FG governments to invest in necessary infrastructure. Galway doesn't have a wastewater collecting system that meets the requirements of the Urban Waste Water Directive, 1991. It should have had it by 31/12/2000.
Only two years ago the European Court of Justice ruled that Ireland hadn't implemented the EU Habitats Directive while a number of other cases are outstanding.
It's hilarious to think that there's anything 'gold plated' about our environmental regulations!
www.irishexaminer.com/news/politic...
It's hilarious to think that there's anything 'gold plated' about our environmental regulations!
www.irishexaminer.com/news/politic...
Micheál Martin says house building in Ireland is hampered by 'gold-plating' of EU rules
Taoiseach says 'going beyond what is required' is slowing down delivery of housing and other big projects in Ireland
www.irishexaminer.com
November 4, 2025 at 10:10 AM
This is simply more deflection by An Taoiseach. It is the failure of successive FF & FF/FG governments to invest in necessary infrastructure. Galway doesn't have a wastewater collecting system that meets the requirements of the Urban Waste Water Directive, 1991. It should have had it by 31/12/2000.
They are flailing around.
Fresh from being trounced by a centre/left coalition in the presidential election, both Martin & Harris reach out to appeal to…the far right.
What a fiendishly cunning strategy.
www.irishexaminer.com/news/politic...
What a fiendishly cunning strategy.
www.irishexaminer.com/news/politic...
Ireland could explore offshore deportation hubs for failed asylum seekers, says Taoiseach
Micheál Martin says Ireland should not rule out deportation hubs outside the EU, as Coalition tensions rise over migration policy
www.irishexaminer.com
October 31, 2025 at 11:51 PM
They are flailing around.
Reposted
This isn’t an accident. It’s policy by design.
The required reallocation of space from cars back to people simply hasn’t happened. We’re still designing cities around cars...
And the consequences? Huge impacts on our health, our shared environment. and the planet.
The required reallocation of space from cars back to people simply hasn’t happened. We’re still designing cities around cars...
And the consequences? Huge impacts on our health, our shared environment. and the planet.
The transport sector has already blown its carbon budget, estimates show
The transport sector is now eating into the emissions allocated to it for the next carbon budget.
www.thejournal.ie
October 21, 2025 at 11:22 AM
This isn’t an accident. It’s policy by design.
The required reallocation of space from cars back to people simply hasn’t happened. We’re still designing cities around cars...
And the consequences? Huge impacts on our health, our shared environment. and the planet.
The required reallocation of space from cars back to people simply hasn’t happened. We’re still designing cities around cars...
And the consequences? Huge impacts on our health, our shared environment. and the planet.
Reposted
The commission may well acquiesce. Sadly physics doesn’t do discounts or bargains and it keeps receipts. If we want a liveable future for future generations on a world that has a climate even recognisably like ours our energy should be being spent on doubling down on climate action…
October 27, 2025 at 10:17 AM
The commission may well acquiesce. Sadly physics doesn’t do discounts or bargains and it keeps receipts. If we want a liveable future for future generations on a world that has a climate even recognisably like ours our energy should be being spent on doubling down on climate action…
Once again, our government fails the people.
Nature doesn’t negotiate.
Our leaders’ hope for a ‘discount’ is a yet another shocking, unforgivable, betrayal.
Our leaders’ hope for a ‘discount’ is a yet another shocking, unforgivable, betrayal.
Ireland hopes for a discount for missing EU climate goals
Ireland will miss its EU climate targets on agriculture, transport and buildings and likely face financial penalties, but can it secure concessions?
https://www.rte.ie/news/analysis-and-comment/2025/1027/1540633-analysis-comment-eu-climate-goals/#:~:text=Last%20March%2C%20the%20political%20system,billion%20and%20€26%20billion
October 30, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Once again, our government fails the people.
Reposted
A brilliant, poignant letter from by our very own Dr Caoimhe Clarke in The Irish Times this morning!
#ActiveTravel #ActiveTransport
#ActiveTravel #ActiveTransport
October 29, 2025 at 8:26 AM
A brilliant, poignant letter from by our very own Dr Caoimhe Clarke in The Irish Times this morning!
#ActiveTravel #ActiveTransport
#ActiveTravel #ActiveTransport
Reposted
This should be an opportunity to talk about our dysfunctional, unhealthy, and unsustainable car-centric transport system. Instead, politicians compete over who can promise cheaper tolls or remove them entirely.
There are major issues with the current toll setup, but remember this: when you consider the true cost of our car-centric transport system, driving stays artificially cheap — and a road is never “paid off.” Even once the financial cost is covered, the ongoing health and environmental harms continue.
October 30, 2025 at 8:33 AM
This should be an opportunity to talk about our dysfunctional, unhealthy, and unsustainable car-centric transport system. Instead, politicians compete over who can promise cheaper tolls or remove them entirely.