A delegation which includes German Green Party Leader Reinhard Beutikofer is to visit Kilkenny this Friday. The group will travel here with a German Television crew to record an interview with Mr Beutikofer for a National TV station. Local Green Party members will then host a dinner for the group as part of a two day visit to the City.
Speaking about the visit, local Green Party Councillor, Malcolm Noonan stated that it was a great honour to welcome Mr Beutikofer to Kilkenny. ‘The Green Party in Germany, (Bündnis 90 Die Grünen) like in many other European Countries has been part of Central and Regional Government for many years now. This has been a motivating factor in our decision to enter Government for the first time, it will be interesting to exchange ideas and talk about the many challenges we face as policy makers weather it be at National, regional or at a local level’, he stated. ‘It is a great privilege that Mr Beutikofer has chosen to use Kilkenny as a backdrop for his interview, particularly given the fact that it will be broadcast on National Television to millions of viewers, its great for Kilkenny but it is also great for the Green Party locally’.
Deputy Leader of the Green Party Mary White TD said that Mr Beutikofer is an inspiration to the Green Movement worldwide and in Government the German Greens have made a significant mark in Democratic Politics in that country. ‘It’s a great time for the Green movement, we have an unprecedented opportunity to shape policy towards a more sustainable society.The German Greens under the leadership of Reinhard Beutikofer are leading the way across Europe, creating thousands of jobs in renewable energy and in Research and Development along the way, his visit is a great honour to the Carlow/Kilkenny Green Party’.
Press Release Kilkenny People, Week Ending 11/11/05
Funding Not an Issue for Proposed Skatepark- Noonan
A statement from Environment Minister Dick Roche that Kilkenny had ‘missed the boat’ in relation to funding for a skate park facility should not be of concern to the city’s substantial and growing group of skate boarders. That’s the view of Green Party Councillor Malcolm Noonan who initiated a feasibility study for the facility which is now being undertaken. ‘While there is disappointment that we missed out on the current round of Department funding, the Minister has assured us that an application will be looked on favourably next year when we have a detailed plan in place to submit’ he stated.
‘Its vitally important that we get this right, with proper consultation, an identified site and quality design, that is why I felt a feasibility study was the logical first step. The skate park in Waterford failed because of lack of consultation with the users and I don’t agree with the Minister in his belief that the study wasn’t necessary because of the many national and international examples of best practice. In any planning process, participative consultation is essential to providing the best possible solutions, this is a site specific study relevant only to Kilkenny and must be looked at in that context’ stated Cllr Noonan.
Cllr Noonan believes that Borough Council Members are speaking as a collective in their desire to see a skate park facility realised as soon as is practicable and that funding is not an issue in this case because of commitments made in the past to fund such a project. ‘We hear a lot lately about infrastructural deficits in the economy, but this is a vital social infrastructural deficit and one component of many in tackling the root cause of anti social behaviour, namely boredom and lack of adequate facilities for our young people, action not ASBO’s is required if we are to make a meaningful commitment to our youth, he stated.
Cllr Noonan will be calling for the establishment of a cross party committee within the Borough Council to oversee such a project and to work with all the relevant stakeholders in achieving a practical, realistic solution to this issue. ‘I would urge all involved in the sport to engage in the consultation in a positive manner and to look at organising themselves as a structured, recognised lobby group for the long term development of the activity in Kilkenny. I was recently informed by a friend about approaches made to the then Corporation for a skate park twenty five years ago! A damning indictment surely of our inaction towards investment in the well being of our young people’ concluded Cllr Noonan.
