Blog 4_ Renters

I've been asked if I can supply any good ideas which would benefit Renters to compliment my Housing proposals. We have all heard the stories of Teachers, Gardai, Nurses, etc., who cannot take up city based jobs because they are unable to find anywhere to rent. Similarly students giving up places in College or travelling long distances every day for the same reason. As with Housing, the answer lies in more supply. One solution often mentioned is "living over the shop". There are large swathes of our cities and towns with business premises on the ground floor where the upper floors are unused and unoccupied. The standard objection is to say (correctly) that such accommodations do not meet the current fire regulations. However, other cities around the world have already solved this problem. In London, for example, sprinkler systems (normally associated with commercial or industrial premises) have been installed on upper floors thus enabling them to satisfy the fire regulations. The bringing- into-use costs for owners would rise but the State could introduce a grant system to compensate for this. Doing so could add thousands of extra city/town based rental homes to the market and in the process create a transformed landscape for renters.

Blog 3_ Wind Turbines

A prominent economist writing in the media recently suggested that wind turbines, once installed, generate electricity at almost zero cost. Unfortunately, however, they require repair and maintenance: of blades, gearboxes, generators, bearings, brakes, and so on, all involving big costs. And if the wind turbines are located offshore, the repair and maintenance price jumps dramatically, needing even more specialised equipment, ships, crews and maritime expertise. Electricity from offshore wind is necessary but will not be cheap.

Blog 2_ Identity

The list of candidates has gone live on the NUI website. There are twelve in all including the three incumbents. Someone on Reddit has copied the list and made a stab at identifying each candidate. I have been misidentified as my more famous namesake and am described as a “television talent judge, newspaper writer and the publisher of the VIP magazine group in Ireland”.  Shortly afterwards Wikipedia repeated the error. Not sure whether this will help or hinder my candidacy?

Each candidate gets a 500 word profile piece on the NUI website. Once these went live on Tuesday 17th, Wikipedia corrected their mistake.

Blog 1_ Nomination Day

Handing in my nomination papers today at NUI offices 49 Merrion Square East; all very efficient and civilised. Tea, coffee and biscuits provided while waiting for documents to be checked and processed. There is no fee but signatures of two nominees and eight assenters are required, all of whom must be on the NUI electoral register (even if the nominated person doesn’t have to be). One of the other candidates arrived after me but was short a signature and asked me to be one of their assenters. I duly obliged but cheekily asked for their No 2s!