James Lawless – View from the Tracks

Catch my latest post over at IrishElection.com ;

http://www.irishelection.com/2010/02/boy-george-no-more/

A story about a little boy who threw all his toys out of the pram.

I attended a meeting last Wednesday night, organised by the residents of Killeenmór to discuss the recent and recurring flooding issues. The meeting was also attended by Cllr. Liam Doyle, Cllr. Brendan Weld and Michael Fitzpatrick (who had to vote in the Dáil) was ably represented by his aide Johnny Callaghan.

The map above shows some the areas affected. The Morrell river flows under the canal and alongside the railway. When it overflows the culverts under railway see it spill over onto nearby fields & houses.

We discussed the root causes which included increased drainage demands from infrastuctural developments ranging from the M7 upgrade to the railway tracks. Some work was done at the time of the motorway upgrade, including upgrading of bridges and some banking of ditches but a lot more is now needed. In a sense the problem is constantly moving downstream as the issues at Johnstown are now manifesting in places like Killeenmór and the neighbouring Turnings townland. The Painestown and Morrell rivers intersect and both join the Liffey eventually.

A comprehensive drainage landscape survey is required and I understand from Deputy Fitzpatrick’s office, that this is underway involving both the Office of Public Works and Kildare County Council. The full course of the Morrell has been walked by officials and a report should be drawn up shortly to see what’s needed.

A report was drawn up some years ago but never implemented, or at least only partially, however I feel the political will is onboard now to make something happen. I will stay close to it and keep the pressure on.

The Kileenmór region just outside Sallins was flooded again last weekend for the third time in three months. There are maybe twenty houses along this road and they have been hit each time it rains with water on the road, in the gardens and in some of the houses. The water is coming from the Morell stream which flows nearby and joins the Painestown river shortly afterwards. There are many possible routings for this water and some of these form a relief valve however the overspill goes across a field, through a set of culverts under the railway line and right onto this road and all its occupant houses.

I have been down at the location a few times recently when this has happened and I brought Michael Fitzpatrick TD with me on Saturday morning. We drove around courtesy of a resident in a 4×4 as no normal car could get through the feet of water across the road. I know Councillor Liam Doyle also visited later that day. Anecodotal evidence suggests the situation has worsened since the motorway upgrade as surplus surface water increasingly swells the streams.

There is a small aqueduct by the 14th lock where the Morell goes under the canal and it is just downstream of this that the problem occurs. At the aqueduct there is a sluice gate beside Kileen golf club which appears to be perennially closed. Whilst this does not cause the problem it doesn’t help matters either.

I feel a comprehensive drainage report needs to be compiled for the whole region from Ardclough down to Johnstown. Whilst this straddles at least two electoral areas (Clane and Naas) it needs to be considered in tandem. We have been in touch with both areas about this and I hope to arrange a meeting onsite shortly. Will post here with updates.

Note this is a cross post from IrishElection.com where I’ve been posting a lot lately. There is quite a busy discussion going on over there also on the same piece.

This post stems from a discussion in the comments section under ‘All politics is local’. We were comparing and contrasting the UK and Irish systems in terms of how rooted politicians must be within their local constituencies. I think there is significant difference between the two jurisdictions, to some degree due to FPTP (First Past The Post) but also due to population sizes.

The system in UK will often see ‘heavy hitters’ or party favourites being positioned within safe seat constituencies to be assured of election. This can mean that Ministers for example are relatively free to concentrate on national matters, whilst a local party machine gets on with the ground work. The constituency being either red or blue (or sometimes yellow) is more or less taken for granted as a loyal stronghold in any event.

Similarly party HQs (Lab and Cons) will often operate a list system, where aspirants are on a waiting list, and are then slotted into various constituencies as seats become available. The link between ‘home turf’ of the constituency and the representatives is far more tenous than here. Whilst there are cases like the Prime Minister himself, who is a passionate and proud son of his Kirkcaldy constituency, his predecessor Blair had never set foot in Sedgefieldprior to the by-election. Also, due to the sheer size of parliament and the country, by elections come up so often that these more mobile candidates seldom have to wait too long to find a suitable opening. In fact, in the UK system, what is sometimes done is that new candidates will be ‘blooded’ in a ‘no hope’ constituency where a seat of the opposite colour comes up, before been given a real crack at a safe seat of their own. Tony Blair was ran in a Tory stronghold (Beaconsfield), purely for campaign experience before being allowed a proper go of it in the Labour seat of Sedgefield. What this does mean in practice is that the party convention is the real election rather than the public vote.

In Ireland opportunties really only come up, once every couple of years, if even, with Council being a ususal prerequisite for a Dáil run, and whilst ocassionaly parachute celebrities feature, generally the candidate will be rooted very deeply within that particular geographic area before even being considered a viable runner. The idea of party favourites flitting from one constituency to the next would be unlikely to work well within the Irish electoral context. The likes of Mary Lou or even Joe Higgins demonstrate that some mobility is possible around the Dublin (or possibly Cork) city constituencies but it is still unlikely to succeed outside those large urban centres. Within the Irish system, the situation remains that having a large local network cemented around a particular area remains the formula for electoral success.

Interestingly both jurisdictions, despite the different approaches and voting methods (FPTP and PR), have produced similar results. The parties all end up chasing the middle, that all important and much sought after floating voters of the centre ground. In the UK with so many seats a foregone conclusion in either direction, the real battle is after the handful of centre lying ’swing’ constituencies. Whilst in Ireland despite a widely differing system, in the form or porportinoal representation, the centre ground is also chased to attract those all important transfers. Then in the US we end up with RINOs and ModDems (alignments within the parties almost closer to the opposite side). Maybe the perfect electoral system is still a work in progress.

Last week I spoke of the RTÉ enquiry which led to much acrimony within the Waterways estate at the Minister’s comments which contradicted the technical evidence previously presented. The ful episode can be seen here: http://www.rte.ie/player/#v=1063707

Similar claims had also been made in local media at the outset, example here:
02 December 2009  Leinster Leader – http://www.leinsterleader.ie/news/Counting-the-cost-of-the.5876640.jp

Thankfully the local debate has moved on in light of technical investigation and informed commentary from residents and engineers, however the prime time remarks represented a setback.

I spoke to Deputy Michael Fitzpatrick about this after the program and he raised the issue in the Oireachtas this week as follows:

Deputy Michael Fitzpatrick: I shall be brief. I shall mention one or two matters in relation to the flooding and move on to more recent events. There was not that much flooding in Kildare, but nonetheless it was very severe. Some of this was caused by the Liffey, as I mentioned earlier, and the way in which it is managed. We need to examine carefully how the Liffey is managed, because while it is flooding in Clane, it then starts to move down to the Strawberry Beds in Dublin, so there is a whole ripple effect.

Perhaps I can ask Mr. Dowling about the Waterways in Sallins. It was flooded very badly, mainly because of blocked drains and outlets. It would not have been flooded at all if proper maintenance had been done before the event. In a recent television comment, the Minister made reference to the Waterways and said the name indicated the development had been built on a flood plain. I have known this area for many years and it was not built on a flood plain, but rather on what was formerly a pitch and putt course, in a strategic location close to the railway station. It got its name from the Grand Canal which runs through the village and the promotional literature when the development was being sold highlighted the canal as a very special amenity, which it is. Comments such as that are very severe on the people now living in those houses, if they want to sell a house in the Waterways since the Minister has indicated it was built on a flood plain. The position needs to be clarified in the public arena about this particular estate. I appeal to the officials and indeed, the Minister, to clearly state that this enormous estate which contains all the infrastructure needed for a proper development, is not built on a flood plain.

Deputy Michael Fitzpatrick: I have one more question for Mr. Dowling, whose answer he may communicate to the committee later. I made a comment earlier about waterways in Sallins. A statement was made by the Minister on television which has the potential to devalue properties in the area substantially and many people are under stress due to this. Most of them are in negative equity at the moment and if his comments stood up, it would be serious for them.

Chairman: I will assist the Deputy. He has raised the matter and the committee will write to the Minister in this regard. We will try to obtain a transcript of the Minister’s comments. I saw the broadcast myself and I remember a certain phrase he used about the name of the estate, but I did not think of the consequences for the estate. We will obtain a transcript and ask the Minister to clarify his comments. We will write to the Minister rather than ask Mr. Dowling.

The full transcript can be seen here.

Just to advise, I have published a longer version of my original highs and lows on IrishElection.com at the following URL:

http://www.irishelection.com/2010/01/highs-and-lows-2009/

Quite a few comments and discussion if you want to drop by there.

Last night (8th Jan, 2010), RTE Prime Time screened a program on the floods in Sallins, amongst other places.

I spoke to the program makers, on camera, for about thirty minutes, however I did not feature in the eventual program. I did show them around the local landscape and bring them to the site of the culvert etc where they interviewed both myself and Brendan McCauley (who did make the program for about 5 seconds!).

The technical information was not bad however the program gave the impression of a state of inertia. I feel that whilst there were many faults preceding the situation (principally lack of any maintenance on the culverts) there has been progress since which was not reflected. In the immediate aftermath, a number of meetings were held and a dedicated committee was setup to progress the engineering issues with the council. That committee had a meeting with the council before Christmas and I understand all sides viewed it as positive. Since then the council have begun a drainage survey of the surrounding lands and I believe the target is to have an upgraded culvert in place by month end.

So things do appear to be happening, albeit at a slow pace. I do not imagine there will be further public meetings however I expect the committee that was formed arising from the initial meetings will be getting together and furthering their work with the council. As I have further updates, I will post on here.

One remark that was most unhelpful was that from the Minister, John Gormely TD.  He remarked, almost flippantly at the end, that the estate was “built on a flood plain” and what would the residents expect? A casual remark, in my view and an uninformed one at that. I have stated in the past exactly why I believe the Waterways flooded and a flood plain does not come into it. I have raised this with Deputy Fitzpatrick and he is seeking a clarification with the Minister so the correct facts can be put on record from the department.

For the benefit of anyone who may have been affected by the recent flooding at Sallins, there is a new page here with pointers to the different resources available.

I’ve pulled together a collection of some highs and lows from 2009.  There may be a few which are neither highs or lows but have aspects of both or worthy of commentary for some other reason.

Some highs:

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• Budget 2010. Whilst I accept this was difficult to swallow for many and my own household (being 50% public sector) was not spared, I rank this as a high as it was an example of the government displaying leadership, decisiveness and a conviction that this would and could be solved and not put indefinitely on the long finger for any politically expedient reasons. Standing up to the unions was also a plus for me as was the fact that the FF backbenchers found voice on something other than drink driving. It also confirmed the upwards trajectory of our Finance Minister, Brian Lenihan TD as the ace in the pack and a bulwark against further government descent. A good day for party and for the country.
• Going North. A little trumpeted but steadily progressing initiative of 2009. Buoyed in no inconsiderable part by the efforts and encouragement of the Ógra movement (who allowed northern voting delegates at youth conference in 09) , the senior Fianna Fáil party organised, held recruitment events and public fori in three Northern counties in the latter half of 2009. Progress was not rapid but steady rather than slow. It is happening and for many of us it is a most welcome development. I always believed in a thirty two county republican party and am delighted to be reassured many others in the movement think likewise. Lets push on for the assembly elections next year and take the opportunity to get a foothold both sides of the border. Towards 2016 indeed.
• Yes to Lisbon. Perhaps not very sexy, but yet very important for the advancement of the greater European project.  A raft of organisational and procedural changes and some important common ground enablers to compete with the big blocs internationally and Continentally on climate change, security, defence etc.  A long slog, longer than anyone expected when it started in 2004 but welcome closure nonetheless…

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Some lows:

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• Oireachtas Expenses Scandal The whole thing was an ignominious stain on the body politic. Whilst our former Ceann Comhairle friend, JOD seems to have been the worst, or at least the most prolific, the exorbitance seems to have been shared by many, including opposition parties when on their various junkets. And of course all expenses were signed off by cross party committee.  Which helps explain the reticence by any the Leinster house club members on any side the house to really tackle this until things came to a head via the media and public reaction.  Also whilst only the excesses were highlighted, the many legitimate expenses claimed are subsumed into the mix with the result that even legitimate expenses become  regarded as carpet bagging. The Minister has twice asked for a review of the system and it is needed for all purposes, to expose abuses but also to safeguard the legitimate uses of the system.
• Banking Crisis The whole problem here is that wrong doing or at least a highly cavalier attitudes appear to have incurred no subsequent penalty, be it financial, legal or career wise. Sure some the big guns shuffled off the deck but not without some nice linings to their pockets as a result. The ‘moral hazard’ argument appeared to go out the window particularly with regard to the banks when it became clear some were ‘too big to fail’ but not in fact ‘too big to bail’. This is the ultimate quandary for a mixed economy, do the rules of extreme capitalism apply (where darwinism prevades and the bigger they come the harder they fall) or does the state pick up the tab to avoid massive job losses and potentially crippling wider economic and social affects. Obama had to do it with the automotive industry and we had to do it with the banks. While the government may have had no other choice,  it does leave a sour taste and we must still see heads roll in 2010 if this sector is to restore confidence.
• Local Elections This was a real black spot. For me personally it was a very gruelling outcome, having campaigned officially for almost a year, and been involved in local activism for a lot longer it was and is frustrating to accept that, for the next few years at least, I can play no formal role in local affairs. The many things I wanted to do must all take a back seat as I have no formal platform with which to address them.  Whilst I accept the feedback from many people that it was a political not a personal issue, it doesn’t change the result. Also had it been locally political, I think the case stacked up very well, unfortunately we were condemned by the economic tsunami and the wider political malaise. A party colleague in another district, who has contested both general and local elections, recalled ruefully afterwards, how when he ran in the generals (when things were good nationally) he was cursed on local issues, and when he ran locally (when as a sitting Cllr he had a solid record on local issues) he was cursed on the basis of national politics! Looking at the wider political situation, one of the difficulties for the Fianna Fáil party is that so few of the ‘next generation’  young bloods were elected in this election, as where survivors did emerge it was generally the old dog for the long road, based usually on decades of graft and local relationship building. Full credit to them, but the imbalance will make it harder for the party to renew or regenerate internally, or to introduce any new blood/ideas, which ironically is what the electorate said was what was most needed. Well unfortunately it is on hold now for another five years at least.

I will likely add a few more items here over the next day or so but am publishing this now to get started.

Great night had last night at our Waterways benefit night fundraiser, in Boss Byrnes lounge. I was on quizmaster duty and we had a full house, over 25 tables entered and some great prizes, thanks to all our sponsors and supporters. We even had music at the interval, from Sallins latest trad sensations, Sult Na Sollain.

View Shortcut to Motorway in a larger map

On related note, the Kerdiffstown road is still closed whilst they figure out what to do with the culvert. I know it is causing some inconvenience to the residents along that road, which unfortunately will be the case until is is sorted permanently, however for the casual commuter, there are other options to get out onto the motoray. I have documented one of these above, an alternate route for Sallins motorists, in particular, to get out onto the N7 without needing to go anywhere near Naas or the Monread road etc. Just follow directions above.