Category: Uncategorized

The Irish motorists favourite institution for griping about, the dreaded parking clampers.  Are to be the focus of a countrywide inspection of parking zones by consultants at a cost of 150,000euro, by order of the National Transport Authority (NTA). Source Motoring Correspondent, Brien Hutton, Irish Independent, Monday, July 15, 2019.

In a follow-up piece, on Ireland AM’s show on the subject and various aspects of the conduct of said Clampers, Alan Huges specifically stated that it was an unfair practice of  clampers when a person’s time had expired, and that person went in pursuit of a ticket meter to pay for a new ticket to place on the vehicle and extend their time at that parking space, they would find that the clampers had, in Alan Huges view, unfair;ly clamped their vehicle.

Now, it actually says on the parking meter, that the maximum period you may pay for and remain in the given parking space is 3 hours (with some exceptions), after which period it is the legal  requirement that the vehicle must be moved by the driver from the parking  space, this is, of course, to ensure that others have an opportunity to avail of the very limited parking spaces available on the public thoroughfare, but of course some people consider their needs more important than others.  Whatever the flaws in the parking regulations and their implementation and enforcement, they are an effort at some sort of fairness for each and every motorist.

Apparently,  Dublin City Council has launched a pilot program of cleaning weeds etc from the roadside kerbs and environs. A very worthwhile endeavour for multiple reasons with positive benefits to the local community and the wider City.                              Speaking to Dublin City Council about this pilot program, streetdogs the word on the street is given to understand that the response to this pilot program is being monitored before it is considered for further development in its scope.                                                      So folks if your area has benefited from this pilot program of tiding roadside kerbs and you like what you see happening outside your front door and wish for it to be happening on a continuous basis, then make your views know to Dublin City Council, by text, phone, email etc.

 

On Sunday,  June 30th, RTE’s Fair City episode included a scene, where an intending taxi passenger approaching the line of taxis was invited by the driver of the taxi at the back of the line of taxis to enter his taxi. whereupon as she, the intending passenger was accepting the invitation and was about to enter that taxi, she was ordered and directed by other taxi operatives to take the first taxi at the rank, an instruction she complied with!!

Now while there were other issues in this episode, such as an unlicensed Taxi Driver, the particular scene referred to,  contains and perpetuates a deeply cherished taxi drivers myth and false public perception, that an intending taxi passenger is obliged to take the first taxi at the front of a taxi rank, this is not the actual legal situation, rather it is the intending passengers lawful right to select any taxi plying for hire at a Taxi Rank (Stand) regardless of whether or not it’s the first, fifth or last one in the line of taxis at the rank. Further, it is an offence for such a taxi driver to refuse to accept the fare simply because of not being the first taxi at the rank, for which the said taxi driver could be subject to serious penalties!!  Now one thinks if Fair City’s scriptwriters are going to develop a storyline involving the legalities of taxi drivers and taxi/cab companies manner and ways of conducting themselves, perhaps a little research and actual public information on the subject might be a good idea!! It’s surprising the usually vocal Taxi Industry has not had something to say or is the meter ticking?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After the posting of Streetdogs.Blog the word on the street, commentary on the Maria Bailey ‘s  “swing saga” streetdogs.blog the word on the street, was given to musing just when would some brave public figure, and which one, would step forward on their white charger and speak in defence of the besieged Lady. And upsteps Clinical Psychotherapist, and former Fine Gael election candidate, Stephanie Regan.

Now, Stephanie Regan, states, her concern ” in this context was with the continuous public shaming and vilification of the individual and the impact on their mental health ”  And her belief and concern that the online criticism had gone too far, which considering her professional credentials is a very understandable viewpoint and observation. But guess what happens next, why of course as par for the course the brave lady herself is subjected to attack for having the gall to speak up. and say, ” I believe that we need to have a line and a code when it comes to how we treat each other in this very public space ”

Kevin Doyle writing in the Irish Independent,  Saturday 8th June 2019, with apparently great pleasure informs it’s readers, that Stephanie Regan has accepted part of the tweet was ” an awkward  reference to the compensation culture in Ireland ” “not my best writing and it made my point badly ”  “but accept and apologise for the wrong inference  that could be drawn from it and take responsibility for the clumsiness of the English”

Well, fair play to the Lady, for having the courage to speak up publicly for  an individual vilified in the press and online media, and then having an act of the even greater courage to explain herself, and make such apologies as  she, the lady herself felt was appropriate to those lacking in understanding of the  true meaning and import of her message!!

Streetdogs.blog the word on the street, observes Kevin Doyle, somewhat gleefully writes in the Irish Independent, Friday,  May 31st. 2019, an article concerning Fine Gael’s pending investigation into TD Maria Bailey’s compensation claim. Apparently, Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar, wants Senior Counsel David Kennedy to compile a file on the whole controversy.

Apparently, this gentleman is to establish what is alleged to have happened at the premise involved on the night in question, He is then to be charged with the task of establishing how a personal injuries claim came to be initiated, then dropped.

Kevin Doyle himself after   proudly stating that “the Irish Independent has done much of the heavy lifting for him (  David Kennedy SC ) ” goes on to suggest that Maria Bailey should be required, to be ” outlining who she thinks was behind ” a methodical” and “well-orchestrated ” emergence of media reports  ”  pre-planned to cause maximum damage”                                                                                                                                                      After this Our Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar is to determine if there was any justification in Maria Bailey’s case in the first place!!! Is there not something wrong with this process? Which on the face of it appears as a complete farce at best and a serious abuse of the individual’s rights under our constitution and the usurping of the role and functions of our courts, by certain self-serving individuals and organisations. A very slippery road.

Meanwhile, in Donegal,  Frank McBreaty, ex-Fine Gael local Councillor, now independent, having resigned his party membership over alleged bullying of him and his family, is threatening legal proceedings against Fine Gael Party for alleged Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and, an allegedly stated intent by him to make Donegal County Council unworkable. ( source:-  Daniel McConnell, Political Editor,  Irish Examiner, Sunday 02 June 2019.)

Did we say something about farcical?

 

Streetdogs.blog the word on the street understands that  for a referendum result in Italy  to be valid,  it must have a required 70% of the entitled electorate to actually partake in the voting in the  said referendum, and a passing of the referendum  itself also requires that 70% of those who voted in the referendum, voted in favour for the proposition contained in the referendum.

It might well serve our erstwhile neighbours across the Celtic Sea to adopt this convention in any potential forthcoming referendum on a 2nd Brexit Referendum,  with perhaps this minor additional feature, given that an official title for our neighbour’s entity is The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Island. Would it not be appropriate that each of its constituent Kingdoms and it’s Principality should be holding their own referendum on Brexit with these rules? Could anyone then reasonably complain about the outcome?

The Supreme Court has declared the conduct of the  Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee ( PAC ) in respect of Angela Kerins former Rehab Group  Chief Executive,, to be unlawful, A denial of her rights as a citizen.

How interesting it is then that Maria Bailey TD, should have her rights as a citizen to take recourse to the Irish Courts, belittled and for her to be subjected to public humiliation,  and her career threatened, simply because the lady is a member of the Government,  and holding Public Office,  is the lady not also a citizen of the State? Surely it is for the courts to determine each and every citizen’s correctness in the pursuit of their grievances, be they Politician, Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Maker etc.  Alan Shatter’s story it seems has some vibrant resonance with the way in which these two Ladies have been treated, by the media and members of the political establishment.