Builders plea

This evening I listened to a representative from the plasters union on the Last Word with Matt Cooper telling a tale of woe. People working in the building sector are being laid off because developers are stopping construction of houses and commercial property in the hope that if they trottle back on supply they can force property prices back up. The spokesman was saying that builders may lay off workers after the traditional builders holiday in August. An estimate of 10,000 job losses in the construction sector was mentioned.

It would be interesting to see if the government can be brave and introduce legislation to encourage development, for example put time limits on planning and rezoning thereby introducing a use it or loose it clause on development land. I know the current government are nice and cozy with property developers so this is unlikely, but 10,000 job losses in one sector of the economy is not something many politicians would like to explain.

New Irish Cabinet

The "New" cabinet is in, well not so new really.

• Cowen, Finance and Tanaiste
• Harney, Health/Children
• D Ahern, Foreign Affairs
• Martin, Enterprise Trade and Employment
• Coughlan, Agriculture Fisheries and Food
• Hanafin, Education
• Lenihan, Justice
• Dempsey, Transport and Marine
• Brennan, Arts, Tourism and Sport
• Gormley, Environment
• Ryan, Energy, Communication and Natural Resources
• O’Dea, Defence
• O’Cuiv, Gaeltacht and Rural Affairs
• Cullen, Social and Family Affairs
• Roche to become Junior super-minister for European Affairs
• Tom Kitt stays on as Chief Whip
• Paul Gallagher to Attorney General

I cant believe Cullen is still in the cabinet and now he's responsible for Social and Family Affairs, lots of money there for him to play with, just don't loose your job or have children and you'll be grand. I think it's good that Lenihan got a big portfolio like Justice, I'd see him as a possible future leader and I always had great respect for his father. Dempsey in transport will be interesting, he got a lot of flack while in Communications, this will give him a second chance. Of course the Greens got their Environment related jobs.

Greens Complaining

The airwaves this evening seem to be full of junior Green Party members moaning and complaining about the compromises their leaders made as part of the proposed program for government. I've never heard so few people complain so much. Some of them are so fanatical about their beliefs it appears they would happier to sit in a tree and sulk for the next 5 years than give an inch on a single idea or policy.

I don't envy Trevor Sargent, John Gormley and co facing these people and getting the program passed by a 2/3rd majority but the bigger challenge will be getting their party members to grow up and join the real world. If they want to have a bigger say in a government then they should either stop complaining, work harder and win more seats at the next election or move en-mass to one of the Aran Islands, declare independence and live their Green utopia.

Update: The Greens voted 86% in favor of the deal, shows I'm talking through my arse most of the time :-)

Bush Watch

There is a story going around the internet that George W's watch was stolen while he was shaking hands with a crowd in Albania. I've seen the video on YouTube and it's clear that he takes the watch off himself and puts it into his pocket. Watch 3:06 to 3:02 in the video below and you'll notice him step away from the crowd with the watch on, put something in his pocket, and then reach for the crowd with no watch on.



So Albanians didn't steal his watch, but Bush thought they would :-)

Green on Green Action?

Looks like we finally have a new government. Fianna Fail and the Green Party have finally managed to come to an agreement on a draft program for government.

The 90-page document is to be put to a special Green Party conference tomorrow afternoon and will also be discussed by the Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party.

I think there is still a long way to go before Thursdays meeting of the Dail. It's one thing to get politicians to agree around a table it's another to get the grass roots of a party to follow. Thet tend to be more fanatical than their leaders and a lot less willing to compromise. The next 5 years of Irish government now depend on the few hundred Green Party members that show up for a conference in Dublin tomorrow.

Personally I think it would be a good thing to see the Greens in government. We need change of some kind and Fianna Fail/Progressive Democrats/Independents would see no change at all, except for the people of South Kerry who can now expect a windfall of government projects as Jackie Healy-Rae and John O'Donoghue vie for the affections of their constituents.

No highrise for Ballsbridge

RTE News is reporting that Dublin city council has rejected an application for planning permission for a 20 storey appartment block in Ballsbridge. I can understand the objections of the locals, if I lived in Ballsbridge I wouldnt like a highrise there either but I think the council is going to have to grow up sometime and move into the 20th century (we'll work on the 21st century next decade). City sprawl is one of the biggest problems faced by Dublin and the only solution is to build up. The argument that high rise didnt work in Ballymun so it wont work anywhere else in Dublin is a little hollow, after all, cities like New York and Sydney have managed to build upwards without society collapsing.

High rise will work, even in Dublin, if it's planned properly, built to a high enough quality, then managed and maintained to a proper standard. If we continue to push Dublin housing estates out into the midlands then the Ireland of citizen commuters will be a sad and stressful place, but the residents of Ballsbridge and the city council wont have to face that so RTE is happy.

Kubica Crash

Just watched the Kubica crash on ITVs highlights of todays Canadian Grand Prix. Initial reports said he had a lucky escape with just a broken leg. Then it was announced that he has minor injuries, a concussion and a sprained ankle and will leave hospital tomorrow. Formula 1 safety has come a long way since Ayrton Senna.

Last of the Aussies

As far as I can tell the last of my Australia travel companions will be leaving Sydney on Sunday. Almost everyone made it around in one piece (apart from one girl who had to fly home early for medical reasons that were not related to Australia itself). In their honour I'd like to post the following video tribute to Australia and encourage everyone else to visit that fair and beautiful land.

Update: How daft am I? 3 are still left around the West coast somewhere last time they updated their blogs.

BB Favorite

Just heard on the radio that the favorite on PaddyPower.com to win this years Big Brother on Channel 4 is "Any Other". I haven't watched it this year but I've seen the newspapers and stories on BBC so I must watch it one evening just to find out how bad these people can be that the public would rather have ANYONE else win :-)

No Minister for Justice?

Michael McDowell, who lost his seat in the general election, will formally step down from Government on Thursday next when the new Dail meets. I presume the intention is that a new government should be voted in then but that is dependent Fianna Fail managing to hammer out a deal with the Greens, the PD's, and a bunch of Independents.

What happens if an agreement is not reached in time? If they cant vote on a new government will Bertie be able to appoint a new caretaker Minister for Justice or will the Department have to take care of itself? The Minister for Justice has certain powers, like the power to grant temporary release to prisoners, authorise phone taps, manage the Gardai, all types of little things that would require someone to be responsible for them. Maybe Bertie could appoint McDowell to the Senate and allow him to continue on as Minister, wouldnt that be a popular decision. :-)