David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I ask the Deputy Leader for a debate on the city of Dublin. For many years I have spoken about the situation of Dublin on a non-partisan basis and some weeks, or a couple of months ago, I referred to the dereliction of the Georgian core, which I have repeatedly drawn to the attention of the city authorities. One of the houses I mentioned in North Frederick Street collapsed. There is a whole series of situations where people are discriminated against. In the living city initiative, Dublin was excluded and now there is a square footage limit which deliberately and specifically excludes Georgian restoration, so there is no incentive.

Finally, there is the Dublin City traffic management plan which is absolutely asinine. I rode a bicycle for many years and was knocked off three times on O'Connell Street. Now we have cyclists who are gone absolutely mad. Apparently they are not required to wear helmets, although it is the law that they should. They cycle the wrong way up streets, they cycle on the footpaths, they cycle against red lights and so on and meanwhile cars are going to be banned. My journey from North Great George's Street to this House will be impossible. Suffolk Street is going to be closed and the College Green gate is going to be implemented. Why is it that people in the inner city were never given recognition for living in the inner city? Nothing is done to facilitate them. I suggest we recommend to the authorities that, just as in Jerusalem which has a different coloured place for people who live in the old city, we should introduce that system here to allow people who live in the city not to be imprisoned in their houses but to get in and out in their motor cars. There is a terrible prejudice against the private motor car in the city. It is just asinine. One has only to look at the back gate of Trinity College where metal spikes have been erected and a path built, resulting in larceny, crashes and traffic jams. It is deliberately using the infrastructure of the city in a manner that is dangerous to the users of cars and pedestrians. I call for a debate on the city of Dublin with particular emphasis on the Dublin traffic plan.