Frank McDonald
@frankmcdonald60.bsky.social
Former Irish Times Environment Editor and author of several books, including A Little History of the Future of Dublin. Interests include climate, housing, architecture, politics and Palestine.
Hear, hear! …
#Homelessness quick fixes
-enforce law on rental properties operating as holiday lets without planning permission
-prioritise bringing vacant property back to use, address barriers to scaling up this sector
-fix the regulatory burden for ‘over the shop’, Minister can do this at stroke of a pen
-enforce law on rental properties operating as holiday lets without planning permission
-prioritise bringing vacant property back to use, address barriers to scaling up this sector
-fix the regulatory burden for ‘over the shop’, Minister can do this at stroke of a pen
November 29, 2025 at 11:29 PM
Hear, hear! …
Reposted by Frank McDonald
Watch this video before you do your Black Friday shopping on Amazon.
November 28, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Watch this video before you do your Black Friday shopping on Amazon.
Oh dear …
November 28, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Oh dear …
Reposted by Frank McDonald
That Jair Bolsonaro is serving a 27 year prison sentence in Brazil for attempting a coup, while an America president who did the same thing is not only free, but trying to help him escape is exactly the kind of thing that makes the U.S. a third world country.
November 26, 2025 at 9:47 PM
That Jair Bolsonaro is serving a 27 year prison sentence in Brazil for attempting a coup, while an America president who did the same thing is not only free, but trying to help him escape is exactly the kind of thing that makes the U.S. a third world country.
They’re coming for everyone
Bruna Caroline Ferreira, who was brought to the U.S. as a child and is the mother of Leavitt’s nephew, was arrested near Boston earlier this month and taken into ICE custody.
Woman With Ties To Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt’s Family In ICE Custody
Bruna Caroline Ferreira, who was brought to the U.S. as a child and is the mother of Leavitt’s nephew, was arrested near Boston earlier this month and taken into ICE custody.
www.forbes.com
November 27, 2025 at 6:00 PM
They’re coming for everyone
Seven years after the Grenfell Tower disaster in London, here’s an even more horrific example of what can go wrong when fire takes hold of high-rise residential buildings …
This is terrible.
At least 36 people are killed and 279 reported missing in Wang Fuk Court, Hong Kong tower block fires
At least 36 people are killed and 279 reported missing in Wang Fuk Court, Hong Kong tower block fires
Hong Kong fire: At least 36 killed in Hong Kong fire with 279 still missing, authorities say
Hundreds of firefighters have spent hours tackling the blaze, which began in apartment blocks surrounded by bamboo scaffolding.
www.bbc.com
November 26, 2025 at 11:48 PM
Seven years after the Grenfell Tower disaster in London, here’s an even more horrific example of what can go wrong when fire takes hold of high-rise residential buildings …
Must-read: "Politicians should be careful about what the lobbyists wish for – the latter’s cures often make things worse.
The planning system is a key part of democracy and the legal system is how citizens hold power to account. Tinker with them at your peril"
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
The planning system is a key part of democracy and the legal system is how citizens hold power to account. Tinker with them at your peril"
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
Lorcan Sirr: Judicial reviews are not the problem – and deregulation is no answer
We have seen before how cutting ‘red tape’ leads to disaster, especially in planning and housing
www.irishtimes.com
November 26, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Must-read: "Politicians should be careful about what the lobbyists wish for – the latter’s cures often make things worse.
The planning system is a key part of democracy and the legal system is how citizens hold power to account. Tinker with them at your peril"
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
The planning system is a key part of democracy and the legal system is how citizens hold power to account. Tinker with them at your peril"
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
Marlet's Tower of Darkness on Dublin's Tara Street is now up for rent as 'The Residence at College Square' with sky-high rents of €3,085 per month for a one-bed apartment and €4,500 per month for a two-bed, offering what the developer's DubLiv agency describes as a 'five-star living experience'.
November 24, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Marlet's Tower of Darkness on Dublin's Tara Street is now up for rent as 'The Residence at College Square' with sky-high rents of €3,085 per month for a one-bed apartment and €4,500 per month for a two-bed, offering what the developer's DubLiv agency describes as a 'five-star living experience'.
Reposted by Frank McDonald
Excellent letter in The Irish Times about proposed new restrictions on judicial review and access to justice…
November 19, 2025 at 7:31 AM
Excellent letter in The Irish Times about proposed new restrictions on judicial review and access to justice…
Reposted by Frank McDonald
A reminder that seven years ago almost to the day, the CIA determined that Mohammed Bin Salman ordered the killing of @washingtonpost.com journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
I hired and worked with Jamal for a year.
www.washingtonpost.com/world/nation...
I hired and worked with Jamal for a year.
www.washingtonpost.com/world/nation...
CIA concludes Saudi crown prince ordered Jamal Khashoggi’s assassination
Audio recordings, intercepted phone calls and other intelligence link Mohammed bin Salman to killing that Saudis say was conducted by rogue elements.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:05 PM
A reminder that seven years ago almost to the day, the CIA determined that Mohammed Bin Salman ordered the killing of @washingtonpost.com journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
I hired and worked with Jamal for a year.
www.washingtonpost.com/world/nation...
I hired and worked with Jamal for a year.
www.washingtonpost.com/world/nation...
Reposted by Frank McDonald
There have been a lot of disgusting and surreal moments in the Oval Office over the last 10 months that disgrace the United States, but Trump publicly dismissing the brutal assassination of a Washington Post journalist as insignificant and blowing smoke up the ass of a despotic butcher is up there
November 19, 2025 at 12:16 AM
There have been a lot of disgusting and surreal moments in the Oval Office over the last 10 months that disgrace the United States, but Trump publicly dismissing the brutal assassination of a Washington Post journalist as insignificant and blowing smoke up the ass of a despotic butcher is up there
Reposted by Frank McDonald
They probably mean it as a joke, but it is definitely possible for the right price.
November 18, 2025 at 12:02 AM
They probably mean it as a joke, but it is definitely possible for the right price.
Reposted by Frank McDonald
As part of the CHA, we recently launched our report “Active Travel: The Magic Pill.”
It shows that embedding active travel into daily life brings major health and environmental benefits for everyone.
And yet, @dubcitycouncil.bsky.social continues to build active-travel 'infrastructure' like this.
It shows that embedding active travel into daily life brings major health and environmental benefits for everyone.
And yet, @dubcitycouncil.bsky.social continues to build active-travel 'infrastructure' like this.
Freshly laid tarmac, freshly painted death lane.
How is this an acceptable standard in 2025 @dubcitycouncil.bsky.social? Paint ≠ infrastructure.
We deserve wide, fully protected cycle lanes that support a healthier, safer, more sustainable city.
This simply isn’t good enough.
#ReimagineDublin
How is this an acceptable standard in 2025 @dubcitycouncil.bsky.social? Paint ≠ infrastructure.
We deserve wide, fully protected cycle lanes that support a healthier, safer, more sustainable city.
This simply isn’t good enough.
#ReimagineDublin
November 17, 2025 at 4:14 PM
As part of the CHA, we recently launched our report “Active Travel: The Magic Pill.”
It shows that embedding active travel into daily life brings major health and environmental benefits for everyone.
And yet, @dubcitycouncil.bsky.social continues to build active-travel 'infrastructure' like this.
It shows that embedding active travel into daily life brings major health and environmental benefits for everyone.
And yet, @dubcitycouncil.bsky.social continues to build active-travel 'infrastructure' like this.
Anything to change the agenda …
Epstein’s War
November 16, 2025 at 11:15 PM
Anything to change the agenda …
Reposted by Frank McDonald
Irish govt: Perfect! Let's make it mandatory for every home to have a data centre in a shed in the back garden, next to the Airbnb shed. www.bbc.com/news/article...
'I heat my Essex home with a data centre in the shed' - BBC News
"It's fantastic because it's eco-friendly...We're not burning any gases," says Terrence Bridges.
www.bbc.com
November 16, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Irish govt: Perfect! Let's make it mandatory for every home to have a data centre in a shed in the back garden, next to the Airbnb shed. www.bbc.com/news/article...
Boycott Starbucks …
I stand with unionized Starbucks workers, who are on strike across the country right now for better wages and working conditions.
Until Starbucks strikes a fair bargain with its workers and ceases its union-busting behavior, I'll continue to boycott the company.
Until Starbucks strikes a fair bargain with its workers and ceases its union-busting behavior, I'll continue to boycott the company.
It’s Time to Roast Starbucks | Robert Reich
Robert Reich
youtu.be
November 16, 2025 at 11:04 PM
Boycott Starbucks …
Local government in Ireland is so pathetically powerless that plans for a citywide traffic speed reduction by @dublincitycouncil.bsky.social can simply be vetoed by central government. If Paris was as impotent as this, Mayor Anne Hildago couldn’t have achieved anything …
Now that the government has abandoned a plan to make city speed limits 30km/h by default, the Dublin City Council is returning to the slog of doing it bit by bit. At a meeting Wednesday, councillors and council managers expressed frustration with the long road ahead.
After government abandons plan to make city speed limit 30km/h by default, council returns to slog of doing it bit by bit
At a meeting of Dublin City Council’s transport committee on Wednesday, councillors and council managers expressed frustration with the long road ahead.
www.dublininquirer.com
November 16, 2025 at 12:11 AM
Local government in Ireland is so pathetically powerless that plans for a citywide traffic speed reduction by @dublincitycouncil.bsky.social can simply be vetoed by central government. If Paris was as impotent as this, Mayor Anne Hildago couldn’t have achieved anything …
Roll up, roll up! Tomorrow (Sunday 16th November) is the last chance to take part in a @dublincitycouncil.bsky.social consultation on the future of George's Dock and show support for turning it into an all-weather heated swimming pool, as proposed by the Dublin City Lido campaign c.org/nrTcrmTYzj
Help Dublin Get the World-Class Public Swimming Facility it Deserves! Support the #GeorgesDockLido Campaign
519 signatures are needed, let’s get there by the end of the day?
c.org
November 15, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Roll up, roll up! Tomorrow (Sunday 16th November) is the last chance to take part in a @dublincitycouncil.bsky.social consultation on the future of George's Dock and show support for turning it into an all-weather heated swimming pool, as proposed by the Dublin City Lido campaign c.org/nrTcrmTYzj
For context, the White House Situation Room is where Obama, Biden and their top military and security personnel watched a live stream of the US Navy Seal raid in Pakistan that led to the killing of Osama Bin Laden …
In the situation room?
Q: "Why are White House officials…meeting with Rep. Boebert in an effort to try to get her to not sign this petition calling for the release of the [Epstein] files?"
Leavitt: "I'm not going to detail conversations that took place in the situation room."
Leavitt: "I'm not going to detail conversations that took place in the situation room."
November 12, 2025 at 10:12 PM
For context, the White House Situation Room is where Obama, Biden and their top military and security personnel watched a live stream of the US Navy Seal raid in Pakistan that led to the killing of Osama Bin Laden …
Family-sized homes just aren’t a priority for developers in Dublin, including the State-owned Land Development Agency - mainly because they’re not as profitable as one and two-beds …
Just 4% of private homes granted planning permission in Dublin city last year were three-beds – is that enough?
Just 4% of private homes granted planning permission in Dublin city last year were three-beds – is that enough?
The figure – which amounts to 83 homes – jumped out at a councillor, he said at a recent meeting.
www.dublininquirer.com
November 12, 2025 at 9:08 AM
Family-sized homes just aren’t a priority for developers in Dublin, including the State-owned Land Development Agency - mainly because they’re not as profitable as one and two-beds …
Reposted by Frank McDonald
“Who knows how many children I & my friends would have with [secure high quality affordable housing] certainly enough to maintain pension-paying workforce. Govt’s strategy of pinning pension hopes on migrant workers is short-sighted & a tragedy for Irish women” 💯 www.irishtimes.com/opinion/lett...
‘I cannot express how seriously the housing crisis has impacted me (35 years old and female) and my friends’
On a recent visit to a friend in Copenhagen, I was struck by how many couples in their young 20s had multiple babies
www.irishtimes.com
November 11, 2025 at 5:34 PM
“Who knows how many children I & my friends would have with [secure high quality affordable housing] certainly enough to maintain pension-paying workforce. Govt’s strategy of pinning pension hopes on migrant workers is short-sighted & a tragedy for Irish women” 💯 www.irishtimes.com/opinion/lett...
Another searing column by the incomparable Mark O’Connell …
Piotr Torng was held in the Dublin city morgue for six months. No one came forward
Piotr Torng was held in the Dublin city morgue for six months. No one came forward
Most obvious and troubling example of our ability to ‘unsee’ is surely our capacity not to see the homeless
www.irishtimes.com
November 2, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Another searing column by the incomparable Mark O’Connell …
If you're in the vicinity of @dculibrary.bsky.social, please pop in to see an exhibition selected from the archive material I've donated. It relates to my first book, The Destruction of Dublin (1985), and the Dublin Crisis Conference I helped to organise in February 1986. A blast from the past!
November 1, 2025 at 6:03 PM
If you're in the vicinity of @dculibrary.bsky.social, please pop in to see an exhibition selected from the archive material I've donated. It relates to my first book, The Destruction of Dublin (1985), and the Dublin Crisis Conference I helped to organise in February 1986. A blast from the past!
A public lido, with a year-round heated swimming pool, would be by far the best outcome for this long-dry dock basin -- as proposed by the George's Dock Lido campaign. But @dublincitycouncil.bsky.social officials insist that any such facility must be developed and operated by the private sector...
The council plans to launch a public consultation on how to develop George’s Dock. Whatever the results, though, it doesn’t plan to cover the costs. Instead, it wants a private operator to come in and deliver a facility or activity.
Council to launch a public consultation on how to develop George’s Dock
Whatever is decided, Dublin City Council doesn’t plan to cover the costs. Instead, it wants a private operator to come in and deliver a facility or activity.
www.dublininquirer.com
October 17, 2025 at 4:38 PM
A public lido, with a year-round heated swimming pool, would be by far the best outcome for this long-dry dock basin -- as proposed by the George's Dock Lido campaign. But @dublincitycouncil.bsky.social officials insist that any such facility must be developed and operated by the private sector...
Reposted by Frank McDonald
When Sir Keir Starmer said he supported Zionism without qualification he wasn't joking. He's now advocating for Zionist football hooligans.
Macabbi Tel Aviv fans are notoriously violent thugs, yet Starmer wants to let them loose on the people of Birmingham.
www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
Macabbi Tel Aviv fans are notoriously violent thugs, yet Starmer wants to let them loose on the people of Birmingham.
www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
Ministers to explore reversing ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans attending UK match after PM’s criticism – politics live
Fans of the Israeli football team will not be allowed to attend the Europa League match at Aston Villa on 6 November owing to safety concerns
www.theguardian.com
October 17, 2025 at 8:34 AM
When Sir Keir Starmer said he supported Zionism without qualification he wasn't joking. He's now advocating for Zionist football hooligans.
Macabbi Tel Aviv fans are notoriously violent thugs, yet Starmer wants to let them loose on the people of Birmingham.
www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
Macabbi Tel Aviv fans are notoriously violent thugs, yet Starmer wants to let them loose on the people of Birmingham.
www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...