I READ FRANK McDonald's advice to the new head of the Irish Government. [1] I agree with most of his advice.
1. Tax cars for carbon. McDonald wants a carbon tax. I want petrol heads to pay more to drive but if I drive an electric vehicle or an H2 car, I don't want to pay more than sales tax.
2. Allow local authorities to raise their own revenue. Let them charge property tax.
3. Halt govt decentralisation. It does not enhance the delivery of govt services.
4. Kick-start the regeneration of Cork and Limerick docklands. The Irish govt knows how to attract revenue-generating business to wastelands. Do it for the scrapheaps along the water in Cork and Limerick.
5. Cancel the Metro North project. It is one of Bertie's pets and it lacks value for money. And it will take ages to recover lost tax takings if St Stephen's Green is excavated. There is more value and less disruption with an interconnector.
6. Fast-track the rail inerconnector. Connecting Heuston to Spencer makes so much sense.
7. Direct Dublin Port to relocate to Bremore. Drogheda Port is right next to the Dublin-Belfast railway and within 2100m of the M1 motorway. Let passengers use Dublin Port. Push the containers north of Dublin.
8. Cancel the new Abbey Theatre in the Docklands. The Abbey belongs in O'Connell Street.
9. Reinstate the Freedom of Information Act . Cowen's legacy could shine as a government under sunshine.
10. Review M3 route near Tara. Commuters there could respect the national heritage by driving on an upgraded N3.
1. Frank McDonald -- "10 ways to make a difference to the environment" in The Irish Times, 10 May 2008.
2. Sent mail-to-blog aboard Aircoach on the Naas Road using my E90 connected to O2-Ireland 3G service.
