Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council 2019-2024

Victor

Note that anyone who is also elected elsewhere (Oireachtas, another council, European Parliament), has to choose where to sit. Their replacement is then chosen by by-election (Oireachtas), their party (council) or list (European Parliament).


Fine Gael 13
Fianna Fáil 7
Green Party 6
Labour Party 6
Independent 5
Solidarity-PBP 2
Social Democrats 1
Total 40


Sorted by Local Electoral Area, then first name.
Barry Ward Fine Gael Blackrock
Deirdre Kingston Labour Party Blackrock
Kate Feeney Fianna Fáil Blackrock
Marie Baker Fine Gael Blackrock
Mary Hanafin Fianna Fáil Blackrock
Séafra Ó Faoláin Green Party Blackrock
Cormac Devlin Fianna Fáil Dún Laoghaire
Dave Quinn Social Democrats Dún Laoghaire
John Bailey Fine Gael Dún Laoghaire
Juliet O’Connell Labour Party Dún Laoghaire
Lorraine Hall Fine Gael Dún Laoghaire
Melisa Halpin Solidarity-PBP Dún Laoghaire
Ossian Smyth Green Party Dún Laoghaire
Anna Grainger Fine Gael Dundrum
Anne Colgan Independent Dundrum
Daniel Dunne Green Party Dundrum
Jim O’Leary Fine Gael Dundrum
Peter O’Brien Labour Party Dundrum
Sean McLoughlin Independent Dundrum
Shay Brennan Fianna Fáil Dundrum
Deirdre Ní Fhlionn Green Party Glencullen-Sandyford
Emma Louise Blain Fine Gael Glencullen-Sandyford
Kazi Ahmed Fine Gael Glencullen-Sandyford
Lettie McCarthy Labour Party Glencullen-Sandyford
Lynsey McGovern Independent Glencullen-Sandyford
Michael Fleming Independent Glencullen-Sandyford
Tom Murphy Fianna Fáil Glencullen-Sandyford
Carrie Smyth Labour Party Killiney-Shankill
Denis O’Callaghan Labour Party Killiney-Shankill
Hugh Lewis Solidarity-PBP Killiney-Shankill
Jennifer Carroll MacNeill Fine Gael Killiney-Shankill
Jim Gildea Fine Gael Killiney-Shankill
Michael Clark Fianna Fáil Killiney-Shankill
Una Power Green Party Killiney-Shankill
Barry Saul Fine Gael Stillorgan
Deirdre Donnelly Independent Stillorgan
Donál Smith Fianna Fáil Stillorgan
Eva Elizabeth Dowling Green Party Stillorgan
John Kennedy Fine Gael Stillorgan
Maeve O’Connell Fine Gael Stillorgan


Sorted by Party, then first name.
Cormac Devlin Fianna Fáil Dún Laoghaire
Donál Smith Fianna Fáil Stillorgan
Kate Feeney Fianna Fáil Blackrock
Mary Hanafin Fianna Fáil Blackrock
Michael Clark Fianna Fáil Killiney-Shankill
Shay Brennan Fianna Fáil Dundrum
Tom Murphy Fianna Fáil Glencullen-Sandyford
Anna Grainger Fine Gael Dundrum
Barry Saul Fine Gael Stillorgan
Barry Ward Fine Gael Blackrock
Emma Louise Blain Fine Gael Glencullen-Sandyford
Jennifer Carroll MacNeill Fine Gael Killiney-Shankill
Jim Gildea Fine Gael Killiney-Shankill
Jim O’Leary Fine Gael Dundrum
John Bailey Fine Gael Dún Laoghaire
John Kennedy Fine Gael Stillorgan
Kazi Ahmed Fine Gael Glencullen-Sandyford
Lorraine Hall Fine Gael Dún Laoghaire
Maeve O’Connell Fine Gael Stillorgan
Marie Baker Fine Gael Blackrock
Daniel Dunne Green Party Dundrum
Deirdre Ní Fhlionn Green Party Glencullen-Sandyford
Eva Elizabeth Dowling Green Party Stillorgan
Ossian Smyth Green Party Dún Laoghaire
Séafra Ó Faoláin Green Party Blackrock
Una Power Green Party Killiney-Shankill
Anne Colgan Independent Dundrum
Deirdre Donnelly Independent Stillorgan
Lynsey McGovern Independent Glencullen-Sandyford
Michael Fleming Independent Glencullen-Sandyford
Sean McLoughlin Independent Dundrum
Carrie Smyth Labour Party Killiney-Shankill
Deirdre Kingston Labour Party Blackrock
Denis O’Callaghan Labour Party Killiney-Shankill
Juliet O’Connell Labour Party Dún Laoghaire
Lettie McCarthy Labour Party Glencullen-Sandyford
Peter O’Brien Labour Party Dundrum
Dave Quinn Social Democrats Dún Laoghaire
Hugh Lewis Solidarity-PBP Killiney-Shankill
Melisa Halpin Solidarity-PBP Dún Laoghaire

SimonMaher

Thanks for posting that! A very helpful view of it all. Looking at those results (and I'm sorry to see a couple of names missing from it) it looks like the situation in the Council Chamber is similar to last term with 20 Councillors between FF/FG and another 20 on the "opposition" benches. All 3 Sinn Fein representatives gone this time around, Green Party representation doubled, some Independent shuffling and a Social Democrat in Dun Laoghaire.

Simon

Larbre34

Having a Labour seat back in Dun Laoghaire Ward is significant, local business owner Juliet O'Connell. Very surprised Michael Merrigan got the boot, less so Mary Fayne.

I've also heard a lot in recent months that John Bailey is in very poor health, I think the people of Dun Laoghaire had a right to know that. Perhaps connected to the political assassination job that has hit Maria Bailey in the last week (though she helps herself not one bit in that regard)

ted1

Larbre34 wrote: »

Perhaps connected to the political assassination job that has hit Maria Bailey in the last week (though she helps herself not one bit in that regard)

No assassination, 100% self inflicted.

Larbre34

ted1 wrote: »

No assassination, 100% self inflicted.

Who sourced the Court docs and inspired the story in the previous weekend's papers? The sniff to the journo came either from within FG or another party, had to.

I’m surprised he got re-elected. There’s plenty of dirt floating around about him with out even mentioning his daughter.

ted1

Larbre34 wrote: »

Who sourced the Court docs and inspired the story in the previous weekend's papers? The sniff to the journo came either from within FG or another party, had to.

When was it in court or due to be before the court ?

Journos do look up court cases.

Larbre34

ted1 wrote: »

When was it in court or due to be before the court ?

Journos do look up court cases.

As I understand it, it hadn't had a hearing as yet.

Certainly they do, but I can't accept the nature and timing of this one being anything other than a political hatchet job. Given the number of buses her fellow FGers have fired her under since Thursday, its impossible to say whether it came from within or without her own party.

Larbre34

Update: Journo who covered the story for the Herald is on Claire Byrne, says they got a "tip-off" on the eve the case was to receive its first hearing in Court.

SimonMaher

Larbre34 wrote: »

Having a Labour seat back in Dun Laoghaire Ward is significant, local business owner Juliet O'Connell. Very surprised Michael Merrigan got the boot, less so Mary Fayne.

I've also heard a lot in recent months that John Bailey is in very poor health, I think the people of Dun Laoghaire had a right to know that. Perhaps connected to the political assassination job that has hit Maria Bailey in the last week (though she helps herself not one bit in that regard)

Was sad to see Michael Merrigan lose his seat - very hard worker but perhaps the fact that he didn't get credit for that hard work in the chamber and at committee is symptomatic of the disconnect between Council and People.

If John Bailey isn't able to take up his seat then he and his party colleagues can co-opt a substitute of their choice on to the council. He's not the vote-getter he once was though with his first preference dropping to about 1500 this time around. So Mary Fayne may get back in through the back door!

Simon

spurshero

Larbre34 wrote: »

Having a Labour seat back in Dun Laoghaire Ward is significant, local business owner Juliet O'Connell. Very surprised Michael Merrigan got the boot, less so Mary Fayne.

I've also heard a lot in recent months that John Bailey is in very poor health, I think the people of Dun Laoghaire had a right to know that. Perhaps connected to the political assassination job that has hit Maria Bailey in the last week (though she helps herself not one bit in that regard)

She is done as a td. She’s made an absolute laughing stock off herself . This morning on Sean o rourke was absolute cringe . Probaly won’t even run next time as she will realize soon if not already that she will have no chance .

coylemj

Larbre34 wrote: »

Update: Journo who covered the story for the Herald is on Claire Byrne, says they got a "tip-off" on the eve the case was to receive its first hearing in Court.

Journalists constantly get tips from people in the courts about well known names that appear on court documents or District Court summons. My guess is that most news reporters have a contact down in the Four Courts.

AndrewJRenko

Larbre34 wrote: »

I've also heard a lot in recent months that John Bailey is in very poor health, I think the people of Dun Laoghaire had a right to know that. Perhaps connected to the political assassination job that has hit Maria Bailey in the last week (though she helps herself not one bit in that regard)

He's not looking well in this

https://twitter.com/dlrcc/status/1137023649507139584

Larbre34

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

He's not looking well in this

https://twitter.com/dlrcc/status/1137023649507139584

Jesus, thats an understatement. He doesn't even look like he knows he's there.

I know the man is ill, but I reiterate that the voters had a right to know that his capacity is clearly impaired. This is not his seat, its not a Fine Gael seat, it belongs to the people of the Ward to choose who best to fill it. Whoever gets co-opted, probably sooner than later, nobody elected. Its a deeply cynical move that this illness was not disclosed.

Parkender

Larbre34 wrote: »

Jesus, thats an understatement. He doesn't even look like he knows he's there.

I know the man is ill, but I reiterate that the voters had a right to know that his capacity is clearly impaired. This is not his seat, its not a Fine Gael seat, it belongs to the people of the Ward to choose who best to fill it. Whoever gets co-opted, probably sooner than later, nobody elected. Its a deeply cynical move that this illness was not disclosed.

Couldn’t agree more. Doesn’t make sense when someone is clearly that ill in running for public office. It’s a disservice to the electorate. Methinks the lust for power hasn’t been degraded though.

Tabnabs

Cllr Bailey has died. Remarkable that he chose to run for election again considering how poor his health was (motor neuron disease).

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/fine-gael-councillor-and-ex-gaa-chairman-john-bailey-dies-1.3951196?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Glencarraig

Tabnabs wrote: »

Cllr Bailey has died. Remarkable that he chose to run for election again considering how poor his health was (motor neuron disease).

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/fine-gael-councillor-and-ex-gaa-chairman-john-bailey-dies-1.3951196?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Not to speak ill of the dead but it just shows that greed and the lust for power (of some sorts) is a powerful incentive. The man should never have sought re_election given the state of his health but it makes it easier to have somebody else from the "inner sanctum" to be co-opted to the council. Cynical to say the least.

ted1

Glencarraig wrote: »

Not to speak ill of the dead but it just shows that greed and the lust for power (of some sorts) is a powerful incentive. The man should never have sought re_election given the state of his health but it makes it easier to have somebody else from the "inner sanctum" to be co-opted to the council. Cynical to say the least.

I don’t think he actively campaigned. Reflects worse on people that voted for him.

Does the seat get allocated ? Might be the reason he ran.

Victor

ted1 wrote: »

Does the seat get allocated ?

For political organisations, it is usual for them to co-opt a new councillor. For independents, it is usually the family.

Larbre34

ted1 wrote: »

I don’t think he actively campaigned. Reflects worse on people that voted for him.

Does the seat get allocated ? Might be the reason he ran.

It really doesn't reflect worse on the voters, it reflects dreadfully on FG and the local Bailey organisation that he was put forward in his state of health without full disclosure.

Of course its the reason he ran, but given zero prospect of him having any capacity to fulfil the role, its massively disrespectful of the electorate to say the least. I'd have had more respect if they had just said, 'John is very ill and not fit to continue representing the DL ward, but he wishes to endorse X' even if that was a family member or inexperienced FGer. These seats belong to NOBODY except the citizens.

I'm not going to say RIP or any of that because Johm Bailey was a thoroughly obnoxious individual in life, but I do sympathetise with any family that loses someone close to them.

P.S. Judging by the heat of the comments on social media on this topic, its clear that many people feel similarly duped.

coylemj

Coincidentally, Ross Perot also died today. I say 'coincidentally' because he and John Bailey (and Trump!) were older wealthy guys who, late in life, decided to go into politics. Some of you may remember getting a glossy tabloid circular through the letterbox in the late 1990s called the 'Larry Butler report'. He was an FF dude with lots of money and time on his hands and who decided to go into politics. His 'report' was a series of photos of Larry and any important person (preferably Bertie or a FF minister) who happened to pass through DL. Mary Hanafin and Barry Andrews successfully kept him off the ticket in general elections, they had the constituency carved up and didn't want a third FF candidate.

John Bailey was an FG candidate in their worst ever election - the general election of 2002 which followed the retirement of the two sitting FG TDs - Sean Barrett and Monica Barnes. The perception that two seats were going a begging attracted carpetbaggers like Helen Keogh, who jumped ship from the PDs, joined FG and was nominated. John Bailey and Liam Cosgrave Jr. were also nominated, even though Cosgrave had corruption allegations swirling around him at the time and had last been elected as a TD 20 years previously, in 1982.

The 2002 general election in DL was particularly noteworthy for the outright war that the FG candidates waged against each other - not one of the candidates' election flyers or posters mentioned their running mates by name. No surprise then that FG succeeded in losing both of their seats, Mary Hanafin got more first preferences than the three FG candidates put together. And the PDs got their revenge on Helen Keogh - Dessie O'Malley's daughter Fiona stood for the PDs and was elected.

Despite getting the lowest number of first preferences of the three FG candidates, Bailey clearly didn't give up as he stood again in the 2007 general election, this time alongside Sean Barrett who was persuaded to come out of retirement and took back one FG seat. Bailey ran three times for the Seanad on one of the vocational panels but failed to get elected so he finally condescended to sit on DLR county council. The loss to national politics is incalculable.

AndrewJRenko

ted1 wrote: »

I don’t think he actively campaigned. Reflects worse on people that voted for him.

Does the seat get allocated ? Might be the reason he ran.

The party gets to appoint the successor - a very, very cynical move by the local FG unit.

ted1

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

The party gets to appoint the successor - a very, very cynical move by the local FG unit.

And is there a death in service payout ?

And the mention of Hanafin above made me laugh. Her mother sued the Dail when she hit taking in for a tour. Must be a South Dublin politician trait. https://www.google.ie/amp/s/amp.independent.ie/irish-news/30000-for-hanafin-mum-after-leinster-house-fall-26657826.html

AndrewJRenko

ted1 wrote: »

And is there a death in service payout ?

Seriously doubt it - Councillors don't get any pension at all now, so there would hardly be a payout on death.

ted1

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

Seriously doubt it - Councillors don't get any pension at all now, so there would hardly be a payout on death.

They seem to get 1 years salary or so. Not much.
http://lama.ie/2013/04/24/elected-members-retirement-scheme/

But they do get a gratuity When they retire https://www.dlrcoco.ie/en/council-democracy/councillor-payments

hatrickpatrick

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

The party gets to appoint the successor - a very, very cynical move by the local FG unit.

This is fundamentally a problem with the system, though. I mean yes, it's totally unethical of the party, but in politics, you give them the opportunity to behave unethically and they almost always will. Why don't we have a system of by-elections for council seats the way we to with Oireachtas ones?

Parkender

Does anyone have an idea when there will there be news on who is co-opted by FG for JB?

SimonMaher

Parkender wrote: »

Does anyone have an idea when there will there be news on who is co-opted by FG for JB?

I would imagine that the co-opting will take place (formally) at the next Council meeting which is in early September.

Simon

Gareth Keenan

I'm not one to speak ill of the dead but I heard a rumour that the old coot was suing DLRCoCo for a workplace accident (a slip in the canteen that caused a broken leg a few years back). Any truth to that? And in any case, do cases like that stop when the plantiff dies?

coylemj

Gareth Keenan wrote: »

And in any case, do cases like that stop when the plantiff dies?

His family would need to show that his death was hastened by the accident. Even then, their case (for emotional loss) would be statute limited. Otherwise, the case dies with him.

Tabnabs

You can't slander the dead, say whatever you like.

Parkender

A GP and IND councillor both recently resigned. One of which had an appalling council meeting attendance record.

Which GP councillor resigned?

Larbre34

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Which GP councillor resigned?

Deirdre Ní Fhloinn.

AndrewJRenko

Parkender wrote: »

A GP and IND councillor both recently resigned. One of which had an appalling council meeting attendance record.

Which IND resigned? And which had the poor attendance record?

Larbre34

Well known cycling zealot Oisin O'Connor has been proposed by GP to replace NiFhloinn.

ted1

Larbre34 wrote: »

Well known cycling zealot Oisin O'Connor has been proposed by GP to replace NiFhloinn.

What’s a zealot, As opposed to a campaigner?

Would you qualify as an anti cycling Zealot?

Larbre34

ted1 wrote: »

What’s a zealot, As opposed to a campaigner?

Would you qualify as an anti cycling Zealot?

Probably. But I'm not going to have an unbalanced influence on policy.

Zealot, defn. a person who is fanatical and uncompromising in pursuit of their religious, political, or other ideals.

Larbre34

Larbre34 wrote: »

But I'm not going to have an unbalanced influence on policy.

How is their influence 'unbalanced' compared to any other county councillor?

Larbre34

[Deleted User] wrote: »

How is their influence 'unbalanced' compared to any other county councillor?

A zealous myopia on that person's part.

I'll put it to you this way. The Council's Director of Infrastructure is on a mission to implement a whole heap of cycleways, as we know, replacing traffic lanes on primary and regional routes in many places. As an example and only because I know some of them, the Deansgrange businesses are anguished at the prospect of further disruption to their businesses by the proposal for Deansgrange Road, already threatened by the economic calamity of Covid.

Just this week, new lining on Kill Lane and Kill Avenue caused massive traffic tailbacks, to cars and buses alike.

The new Councillor, Mr O'Connor, has on his own twitter feed, expressed no understanding of the necessity to prioritise keeping economically important roads fully open for the benefit of businesses and local customers as we look forward hopefully to some recovery in the next few months.

And so, the collective failure of DLR Council to properly support local commerce in these times, at both management and elected Council level, does not look like being eased by the appointment of an anti-car zealot Councillor to the ruling coalition on the Council.

AndrewJRenko

Larbre34 wrote: »

A zealous myopia on that person's part.

I'll put it to you this way. The Council's Director of Infrastructure is on a mission to implement a whole heap of cycleways, as we know, replacing traffic lanes on primary and regional routes in many places. As an example and only because I know some of them, the Deansgrange businesses are anguished at the prospect of further disruption to their businesses by the proposal for Deansgrange Road, already threatened by the economic calamity of Covid.

Just this week, new lining on Kill Lane and Kill Avenue caused massive traffic tailbacks, to cars and buses alike.

The new Councillor, Mr O'Connor, has on his own twitter feed, expressed no understanding of the necessity to prioritise keeping economically important roads fully open for the benefit of businesses and local customers as we look forward hopefully to some recovery in the next few months.

And so, the collective failure of DLR Council to properly support local commerce in these times, at both management and elected Council level, does not look like being eased by the appointment of an anti-car zealot Councillor to the ruling coalition on the Council.

So just to be clear, he's a zealot because of what he hasn't said on his Twitter feed, in your opinion. I presume you reckon all the other Councillors who expressed no anti-ISIS understandings on their Twitter feeds are ISIS zealots?

ted1

Larbre34 wrote: »

A zealous myopia on that person's part.

I'll put it to you this way. The Council's Director of Infrastructure is on a mission to implement a whole heap of cycleways, as we know, replacing traffic lanes on primary and regional routes in many places. .

Have you bothered to ask why?
Let’s take look at cherrywood, 30,000 extra residents.
Shankill
500 units being added to the castle
200 being added by Michael fingelton , similar planned fur across the road.
Dalkey manor, harbour road, castle park, and bullach are all being developed,
Stillorgan Blake’s snd the leisureplex are getting several hundred units too. And lots more in the council area
now there’s no room for any more cars. What do you think will happen traffic when these are built ?
Cycle paths take up less room and remove cars from the road.


Whole businesses in Deansgrange may be against it initially that’s because they are uneducated and fear change. Studies have shown it’s positive for businesses.

And as for traffic. Of course it’ll be worse while people learn to adjust their behaviour. That needs a few weeks to settle.

You seem to think only people who sit in cars spend money. That’s a very ill informed opinion

Larbre34

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

So just to be clear, he's a zealot because of what he hasn't said on his Twitter feed, in your opinion. I presume you reckon all the other Councillors who expressed no anti-ISIS understandings on their Twitter feeds are ISIS zealots?

Don't be obtuse.

Go and read his Twitter and you'll get the picture.

AndrewJRenko

ted1 wrote: »

Have you bothered to ask why?
Let’s take look at cherrywood, 30,000 extra residents.
Shankill
500 units being added to the castle
200 being added by Michael fingelton ,

Tell us more about Fingleton's role please.

AndrewJRenko

Larbre34 wrote: »

Don't be obtuse.

Go and read his Twitter and you'll get the picture.

I'm quite familiar with his works thanks.

ted1

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

Tell us more about Fingleton's role please.

Slimy f€€ker transferred the land around the house to the wife and only listed the house as an asset

https://www.google.ie/amp/s/www.irishtimes.com/business/construction/michael-fingleton-linked-lands-at-centre-of-controversial-housing-plan-in-shankill-1.4392676%3fmode=amp

To make it worse he is keeping the house , so rather than opening up onto shanganah road all construction traffic etc will have to go through a residential development at the rear of the lands

Larbre34

Larbre34 wrote: »

A zealous myopia on that person's part.

In your opinion, and solely because you disagree with him. I could as easily argue that other councillors have a zealous myopia on issue X, Y or Z that's particularly important to me.

I'll put it to you this way. The Council's Director of Infrastructure is on a mission to implement a whole heap of cycleways, as we know, replacing traffic lanes on primary and regional routes in many places. As an example and only because I know some of them, the Deansgrange businesses are anguished at the prospect of further disruption to their businesses by the proposal for Deansgrange Road, already threatened by the economic calamity of Covid.

1) No primary routes are having lanes curtailed


2) Business leaders are inherently biased, and have no more idea of the potential affect of traffic changes than anyone else. Yet you're attributing some sort of expert knowledge on their part.

Just this week, new lining on Kill Lane and Kill Avenue caused massive traffic tailbacks, to cars and buses alike.

And? Why are you assuming that any road/traffic changes should always be beneficial to vehicles? That's quite zealously myopic of you.

The new Councillor, Mr O'Connor, has on his own twitter feed, expressed no understanding of the necessity to prioritise keeping economically important roads fully open for the benefit of businesses and local customers as we look forward hopefully to some recovery in the next few months.

In your opinion. I'd also love to see some facts/research/evidence for how 'economically important' those roads being 'fully open' is.

And so, the collective failure of DLR Council to properly support local commerce in these times, at both management and elected Council level, does not look like being eased by the appointment of an anti-car zealot Councillor to the ruling coalition on the Council.

In your biased, irrational opinion.

Gareth Keenan

Deleted User wrote: »

1) No primary routes are having lanes curtailed

Incorrect. The N31 Primary Route (DL Harbour to M50) has had a lane curtailed, on the Blackrock to DL section.

Gareth Keenan

Gareth Keenan wrote: »

Incorrect. The N31 Primary Route (DL Harbour to M50) has had a lane curtailed, on the Blackrock to DL section.

Thanks for the correction. I thought the N31 had been declassified years ago, given it hasn't been an active port in... 5? years!

Gareth Keenan

Deleted User wrote: »

Thanks for the correction. I thought the N31 had been declassified years ago, given it hasn't been an active port in... 5? years!

Yeah, it wouldn't have been a surprise if it was. It will either need to be declassified sharpish or the cycle path changes reverted, once the temporary conditions that brought the changes into being lapse.

Larbre34

[Deleted User] wrote: »

In your opinion, and solely because you disagree with him. I could as easily argue that other councillors have a zealous myopia on issue X, Y or Z that's particularly important to me.

1) No primary routes are having lanes curtailed

2) Business leaders are inherently biased, and have no more idea of the potential affect of traffic changes than anyone else. Yet you're attributing some sort of expert knowledge on their part.

And? Why are you assuming that any road/traffic changes should always be beneficial to vehicles? That's quite zealously myopic of you.

In your opinion. I'd also love to see some facts/research/evidence for how 'economically important' those roads being 'fully open' is.

In your biased, irrational opinion.

Thats entirely your case to make.

The case I'm making and will continue to make is that nothing should obstruct economic recovery and ease of access to all our domestic businesses, large and small, who are in an existential crisis. Those businesses have no more evidence than the big holes in their trading accounts. As you have already been corrected on, national and regional routes are in fact having lanes removed.

I should point out, that just in recent days, dlr Council has shelved plans to make Deansgrange Road one-way to install a full width cycle lane, as a result of overwhelming opposition, not least from businesses.

And using the logic that business leads to employment leads to taxes leads to investment leads to recovery, I'm betting this will be a very pro business Govt in 2021, one that will not see the green tail wag the blue dog.