Pádraig McEvoy
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padraigmcevoy.bsky.social
Pádraig McEvoy
@padraigmcevoy.bsky.social
1.2K followers 710 following 160 posts
Councillor #Clane-Maynooth Municipal District
Kildare Co. Co. and Eastern & Midland Regional Assembly

Peace Commissioner #RestoreNature
Climate action now for the longer term.

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Pádraig McEvoy @padraigmcevoy.bsky.social · Apr 19
The impacts of fossil fuel advertisements on our everyday decisions. padraigmcevoy.substack.com/p/totem-pole...

With acknowledgements to:
- @brianleddin.bsky.social
- @codohertynews.bsky.social
- Aisling Bolton-Dowling
- @antaisce.bsky.social
- @johnnycollins.bsky.social
- @olaln.bsky.social
Showing service station totem poles with fossil fuel prices as regulated by Irish competition law. The associated commercial branding dominates Irish roads and streets when approaching service station forecourts.
padraigmcevoy.bsky.social
Public Reps on Public Transport... think about it for a couple minutes!

How different it would be if politicians had to use public transport? - @sadhbhoneill.bsky.social

www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
Climate: Imagine how different things would be if politicians had to use public transport
Long lead-in times, a lack of sustained policy commitment, and start-stop approaches to big projects all contributed to where we are now
www.irishtimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:03 AM
padraigmcevoy.bsky.social
Energy, grid, land, and water capacities limit Ireland from scaling into an AI data-centre superpower.
That would strain communities, climate goals, and infrastructure already at breaking point. The smarter future would shape tech to fit Ireland. - Una Mullally
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
Una Mullally: Ireland can’t compete in the race to build AI data centres, and shouldn’t try
Our capacity to emulate massive developments happening elsewhere is not currently realistic
www.irishtimes.com
November 24, 2025 at 7:05 AM
Reposted by Pádraig McEvoy
orla-hegarty.bsky.social
Headline “Stringent new tenancy rules spark ‘stampede’ of landlords from market as fears for renters grow”

Fact “landlords with registered private tenancies increased by 0.24% annually to 104,072 in Q2 2025”-RTB

..landlords sell to other landlords or homeowners www.independent.ie/irish-news/s...
Stringent new tenancy rules spark ‘stampede’ of landlords from market as fears for renters grow
THE number of landlords leaving the market is accelerating ahead of new tenancy rules, estate agents across the country have told the Sunday Independent.
www.independent.ie
November 23, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Reposted by Pádraig McEvoy
orla-hegarty.bsky.social
for example- this piece is factually incorrect & full of bias www.irishtimes.com/business/202...
Housing stuck at the bottom of planning priorities
Ireland may have a crisis in finding homes for its people but when it comes down to it, they are not as important as geese
www.irishtimes.com
November 22, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Reposted by Pádraig McEvoy
orla-hegarty.bsky.social
🔖 Must read

“On Environmental Democracy & the Collisons’ “Abundance-Verse”

a fact-packed response by Dr Andrew Jackson, UCD ..to the fact-free claims of John Collison’s Irish Times essay #Planning #Housing #Speirgorm @ucddublin.bsky.social @andrewlrjackson.bsky.social

elajucd.com/2025/11/21/o...
On Environmental Democracy and the Collisons’ “Abundance-Verse”
Andrew Jackson 21 November 2025 I. Introduction A clamour of praise greeted John Collison’s “how to get Ireland moving” Op-Ed following its publication in the Irish Times on 25th October: the Irish…
elajucd.com
November 21, 2025 at 5:28 PM
padraigmcevoy.bsky.social
Morning, Grangegorman!
@tudublin.bsky.social
Academic Hub in the frost
November 20, 2025 at 8:40 AM
Reposted by Pádraig McEvoy
orla-hegarty.bsky.social
#Planning “new report identifies real obstacles to infrastructure delivery as conflicting policy targets, lack of policy clarity & tardiness in policy delivery, not judicial review.. just 5.3% of decisions challenged; findings expose the Government’s scapegoating” www.irishtimes.com/opinion/lett...
Letters to the Editor, November 19th: On planning legislation; neutrality and Troy Parrott’s hat trick
`Ministers are choosing to restrict Irish citizens’ constitutional right to hold public authorities to account’
www.irishtimes.com
November 19, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Reposted by Pádraig McEvoy
orla-hegarty.bsky.social
🇮🇪 Ireland has effective moratorium on new data centres due to lack of capacity

Unrelated: Ireland’s govt plans emergency powers & limits on access to the courts

Unrelated: €3.5 billion budget for infrastructure

Unrelated: Meta & Amazon are building nuclear reactors to power data centres for AI
Meta signs deal with nuclear plant to power Al and datacenters for 20 years Facebook and Instagram parent's deal follows other big tech companies signing agreements with power companies Meta on Tuesday said it had struck an agreement to keep one nuclear reactor of a US utility company in Illinois operating for 20 years. Meta's deal with Constellation Energy is the social networking company's first with a nuclear power plant. Other large tech companies are looking to secure electricity as US power demand rises significantly in part due to the needs of artificial intelligence and datacenters. Google has reached agreements to supply its datacenters with nuclear power via a half-dozen small reactors built by a California utility company. Microsoft's similar contract will restart the Three Mile Island nuclear plant Amazon goes nuclear, to invest more than $500 million to develop small modular reactors
November 18, 2025 at 11:17 AM
Reposted by Pádraig McEvoy
orla-hegarty.bsky.social
New day. New un-evidenced & easily disproved claim about #Planning & #housing
This is every day #6

Headline “Surge in objections, board facing record number of judicial reviews”

Text “recent slowdown in JRs means number between this year & last are equalising” www.businesspost.ie/companies/su...
Surge in objections leads to planning board facing ‘record number’ of judicial reviews
www.businesspost.ie
November 16, 2025 at 12:22 PM
padraigmcevoy.bsky.social
The article argues that the growing chorus blaming judicial review for delays in housing, energy and infrastructure in Ireland is a distraction from deeper issues — under-resourcing, rushed legislation, and flawed decision-making. - @attractaub.bsky.social in @irishexaminer.bsky.social
November 13, 2025 at 12:54 PM
padraigmcevoy.bsky.social
pca.st/episode/29a2...

@orla-hegarty.bsky.social addressing the bombarding from false, half-true and plausable narratives, misinformation, a lack of rigour in reporting, an acceptance of spin [because] it is influencing policy/media very heavily... [and adding to] systemic risk.
What is wrong with Ireland’s housing and planning system?
pca.st
November 13, 2025 at 5:23 AM
padraigmcevoy.bsky.social
Some corrections to recent misinformation on judicial review and context around facts behind the application of EU law in Ireland, access to justice teased out on the Echo Chambers Podcast with Sabrina Kemper and Fred Logue

pca.st/episode/824e...
The Collison Corrections and Access to Justice
pca.st
November 6, 2025 at 7:57 AM
padraigmcevoy.bsky.social
Powerful letter asking if we’ve been collectively gaslit by the construction industry — exposing how public input is blamed while elite networks quietly rewrite planning rules.
It's time to defend transparency and democracy in development. #PlanningJustice #Ireland
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/lett...
Have we all been gaslit by the construction industry?
‘As a planning consultant, I’ve seen first-hand how public participation strengthens communities’
www.irishtimes.com
November 5, 2025 at 8:42 AM
padraigmcevoy.bsky.social
A global to local overview of work done and the challenge at our door for nature by @malcolmnoonan.bsky.social at the Kildare Biodiversity Conference 2025.
@kildarecoco.bsky.social
Senator Malcolm Noonan Kildare Wildlife Rescue Kildare Biodiversity Conference
October 19, 2025 at 8:27 AM
padraigmcevoy.bsky.social
"Shed-sits" Lorcan Sirr in discussion with Sean O'Leary on the IPI podcast series.

pca.st/episode/07e4...
Homes Not Hype. The Planners Challenge
pca.st
August 29, 2025 at 4:38 AM
padraigmcevoy.bsky.social
A speeding driver was three times over the legal alcohol limit when caught in Kildare.

www.independent.ie/regionals/ki...
Speeding driver was three times over the legal alcohol limit when caught in Kildare
A speeding driver who was behind the wheel in Co Kildare while intoxicated was arrested last night and is due to appear before the courts.
www.independent.ie
August 27, 2025 at 7:01 AM
padraigmcevoy.bsky.social
Another data centre, in Naas this time, which was designed with fossil fuel gas generators and climate changing emissions.

"An Taisce, Friends of the Earth Ireland and Friends of the Irish Environment strongly opposed the plan, warning of serious climate impacts."

www.kfmradio.com/news/localne...
Kildare Council Approves €3bn Data Centre Campus In Naas Despite Climate Concerns
The six-centre project, led by Robert Moffett’s Herbata Ltd, will be built beside the M7 motorway and local business park.
www.kfmradio.com
August 22, 2025 at 9:34 AM
Reposted by Pádraig McEvoy
irishtimes.com
Move to ease climate targets criticised for allowing continued high methane emissions
Move to ease climate targets criticised for allowing continued high methane emissions
‘For Ireland, with outsized methane emissions, to base its long-term climate target on stabilising warming sets a dangerous precedent’
www.irishtimes.com
August 12, 2025 at 6:13 AM
padraigmcevoy.bsky.social
"Technology can be part of a socio-ecological transition, but it all depends on what problems we expect it to solve." - @sadhbhoneill.bsky.social

www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
Sadhbh O' Neill: Have we ever really considered what the future of transportation will look like?
It is likely to take decades before AVs can operate reliably in mixed urban traffic and bad weather conditions
www.irishtimes.com
August 12, 2025 at 5:14 AM
padraigmcevoy.bsky.social
As we face the climate truths about our dependence on damaging fossil fuels, how do we avoid jumping into a greenwash fire?

HVO is a climate ‘quick fix’ that could be worse than fossil fuels.

www.irishtimes.com/environment/... - @hannahdaly.ie
www.irishtimes.com
August 7, 2025 at 7:53 AM
padraigmcevoy.bsky.social
The Climate Council warns against ‘dumb’ proposal to allow forestry on peatlands.

The @ccacireland.bsky.social just doesn't rate it! - @kosull.bsky.social

www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
Dumb and Dumber movie poster
July 16, 2025 at 6:05 AM
padraigmcevoy.bsky.social
Browne's Boxes:
Is Ireland ready for drab Soviet-style apartment blocks?

www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
www.irishtimes.com
July 14, 2025 at 5:55 AM
padraigmcevoy.bsky.social
Ministerial dithering on electoral promises and programme for government objective to students sees divisions emerge between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil over college fees.
www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...
Divisions emerge between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil over college fees
Fine Gael leader Simon Harris issues message to party’s TDs contradicting suggestion from Fianna Fáil Minister
www.irishtimes.com
July 1, 2025 at 5:46 AM
padraigmcevoy.bsky.social
A wonderful, long-awaited community day to mark the opening of the new building for Scoil Phádraig, Clane.

School motto: "Peace, honesty, and respect."

Thanks to all who have contributed to fulfilling this great achievement.
Ribbon ceremony to mark the opening of the Scoil Phádraig boys national school building, Clane. Fr Paul O'Boyle marking the opening of the Scoil Phádraig boys national school building, Clane. Bishop Denis Nulty marking the opening of the Scoil Phádraig boys national school building, Clane. Principal Teacher Cathal Carr marks the opening of the Scoil Phádraig boys national school building, Clane.
June 20, 2025 at 12:47 PM
padraigmcevoy.bsky.social
The Presidency is a plum job no one wants. There’s no real mystery why.

www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...

"But the danger is that the process, much like regular politics, proves too toxic and distasteful for truly interesting candidates,..."
Kathy Sheridan: The Presidency is a plum job no one wants. There’s no real mystery why
Campaign savagery proves the system works because it weeds out the inexperienced, self-deluded and fantasists
www.irishtimes.com
June 18, 2025 at 5:51 AM