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A GROUP OF traders who argue that Dublin City Council acted beyond its powers in adopting traffic bans on private vehicles have been granted leave to challenge the measures by way of judicial review.
Dublin City Centre Traders Alliance, led by solicitor Noel Smyth, is seeking a judicial review of the effects of traffic calming measures and works on several Liffey quays put into place by respondents Dublin City Council and the National Transport Authority (NTA) last August.
The alliance includes the owners of city centre car parks, including those connected to Brown Thomas, Arnotts and the Jervis Shopping Centre and counts the Restaurants Association of Ireland and Louis Copeland among their members.
By way of judicial review, the alliance seeks to challenge traffic changes and restrictions on the use of private vehicles at O’Connell Bridge, Bachelor’s Walk, Eden Quay, Aston Quay, Burgh Quay and Fleet Street.
Private traffic is not permitted to drive on a specific stretch of the quays on either side of O’Connell Bridge from 7am to 7pm to encourage the use of public transport and cycling.
The transport plan adopted has a stated aim to reduce congestion by discouraging traffic “that has no destination in the city”.
Smyth submits in his papers that a July 2024 report commissioned by the traders predicts that the adoption of the transport plan would have an overall negative impact of €390 million.
The traders’ report predicts a decrease in retail spending in the year 2028 of €141 million and a loss of over 6,000 jobs, leading to the total “adverse monetary impact” of €390 million.
In the grounding statement seeking judicial review, the traders seek an order quashing the July 2024 adoption – the first order – of the ‘Dublin City Centre Transport Plan’ by the respondents.
The traders also claim the adoption of the plan as a ‘joint plan’ between the council and the NTA is “invalid”. They further claim the council’s chief executive was “not empowered” to make the order [adopting the transport plan] because it “exceeded” the terms of the Dublin City Council Development Plan 2022-2028.
The adoption order was also “invalid and made in breach of fair procedures and natural justice”, the traders claim.
The group are also seeking a quashing of what they submit are the council’s second and third “invalid” orders, relating to the implementation of the traffic management changes and the granting of approval for signage for traffic calming measures along the north and south quays.
It is submitted that the council acted ‘ultra vires’ – beyond its powers – and erred in law in ordering the implementation of the traffic calming measures without an environmental impact assessment being carried out.
In Smyth’s affidavit, it is also claimed that a questionnaire, provided during an 11-week public consultation that closed on 1 December 2023 was “biased” and designed to “prompt answers in support of the respondent’s draft plan”.
The traders further claim that the respondents approached the adoption of the transport plan “with a closed mind” and followed a process “designed to achieve a pre-ordained outcome”.
When granting permission for the review at the High Court this week, Justice Richard Humphreys adjourned the matter to 13 January for what counsel for the traders, Eamon Galligan SC, called “quite a complex matter”.
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This is bad news for Ireland, it always amazed me how Britain gets away with there status in Europe. They don’t want to accept rules or fiscal plans laid out by Europe or get involved regarding the currency but they gain all the perks that are only suppose to benefit European countries.
They are not part of the Euro for a start;they use their veto for the benefit of their citizens,they also only ratify treaties that are suitable for them.Finally they don’t feel the need to do the bidding of France or Germany to be treated like attention seeking children.
What perks are we talking about Mr Know?Britain bunged us 7 billion at a very favourable interest not so long ago. They’re the best friend Ireland has. Remember that before you make disparaging comments about them.
Their status. Not there.
Norway are not even members and they get most of the perks, with none of the drawbacks. I’m not advocating that we exit the EU merely expressing my derision of States that seem to be playing from a different rule book than us.
Britain pay over 9bn a year into EU. FTT is complicated , in essence designed to raise money on transactions and is seen as a way of generating some money from the financial sector (allegedly to make them pay their share for the financial crisis ) , as the UK are staying out ,there is some risk to jobs in the financial sector in Ireland , although the EU have now introduced it in a way that means the tax on the transaction applies regardless of where you locate the trader to reduce the fear or jobs migrating. Ireland is not against the principle but is holding out due to the UK position , there is money generated for participating countries- but in Ireland we already pay a tax on trades which would be replaced by FTT .Many fear that if it works it could be the beginning of a road to euro taxation harmony down the road- something we don’t want as our low corporate rates might then be scrapped obviously making us less appealing to FDI etc….
It’ll be brought in yet anyhow. Either by consensus of the government in exchange for something else, or forced upon us by the EU because they have our best interests at heart…. And we ARE a special case ! ! !
Yes indeed a basket case.
Finally democracy takes some control of the predatory banks. All should implement this measure as a moral imperative. Let’s hope this spreads and becomes the norm.
Rothschilds foaming at the mouth
No chance of this coming in here for the simple reason that the banks make banking policy in Ireland, not Noonan.
I thought that was a movie poster for Hitchcock
Banana republic.
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