Sham democracy exposed in Galway

galway | miscellaneous | opinion/analysis Tuesday October 28, 2003 17:37 by Orla Ni Chomhrai nichomhrai at eircom dot net

Recently the Department of Justice looked for submissions on their plans to place 18 CCTV cameras in Galway City. I sent in the one on behalf of the Defend Free Speech, Assembly, and Activity Campaign. (see http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=61744 ). We raised various concerns, potential for misuse, invasion of privacy, issues over use of resources and inefficiency of CCTV as a deterrent, and the lack of real consultation as it seemed the decision had already been made to introduce these regardless of submissions made. The sham of a consutation process became even more obvious during the week. This is relevant to the whole country not just because of plans to bring in new CCTV cameras to 17 locations around the country, but because it shows how the government and state works. Anyway here is some information on the issue.

Hi all,


It was obvious very early on that they were not really interested in a proper public debate on this issue or interested in what the general public has to say about this issue. The monitors were already in place in a city centre Garda station (at the cost of Euro 27,700), the contract for the works was awarded as far back as March 2002, at least one of the planning notices was places far up a pole and not visible unless the person was looking upwards (and seeing as most people don't walk looking up at the sky they would not be likely to see this - it took me a while to locate it even when I went looking for it.). I also spoke to someone who walks in Salthill and she didn't see any planning notices there (though they were possibly high up on a pole like the one I saw).

There was also some confusion at the Garda station and city hall when people made enquiries about the plans. For example, one person I spoke to was told by a Garda, when she went to look at the information they had there, that she would have to go up to City Hall to view the information though they did have it there at the station. I am not suggesting this garda was lying, but just that even they had so little information that they gave out incorrect information to the public.

Also, there was only very limited information available in what was at the Garda Station. Basically it was pictures of where the cameras would be, a map, and a letter with an adress the person could write to for more information. There was no attempt to justify the introduction of cameras, or explanations as to what they would be useful for. There was no information of cost. There was no explanation either of the consultation process.

Anyway, to make matters worse, when a local Labour Councillor rang the Deparment of Justice on Monday the 20th they started giving out that she was making a submission. They also said that they had been in concultation with the City Council for months and they obviously didn't want anything to come in the way of that. By this they meant that they were in touch with the unelected officials, and, as emerged later, a PD Councillor who is also a business man.

I sent in a press release and letter to the local media about this and got a certain amount of coverage. This obviously rattled some people and on Friday the PD Councillor and business man got on the radio to support the introduction of CCTV, complain about the fact that there were 7 submission from Galway and none from 3 other areas this was being introduced in, and only 1 from Bray. (He commented on this 'I think you just make you own observations on that.' !). Even more interesting though was the fact that he revealed that he was in touch with both city officials and the Deparment of Justice and that he was sure there would be no delay in the plans.

This issue is more relevant that the immediate issue of CCTV, as it shows how our 'democracy' works. The list of the 17 areas which are mean to be getting CCTV are

Athlone, Ballyfermot, Bray, Carlow, Castlebar, Clondalkin, Clonmel, Dundalk, Dun Laoighaire, Ennis, Finglas, Galway, Kilkenny, Limerick, Sligo, Tallaght and Waterford.


Orla



This is the transcript of the interview that took place between Keith Finnegan (presenter) and local PD councillor and business man Declan McDonnell, on Galway Bay FM on Friday the 24th of October. This can also been listened to on the archive section of the Galway Bay FM website - just until next Friday. (http://www.galwaybayfm.ie/index2.html ) It is about 1 hour and 40 minutes into the programme (you can fast forward to this).

In it we are effectively told that the decision to introduce CCTV cameras has already been made. It is quite interesting and gives a feel for how these decisions are made, and who has the ear of the council.

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Keith: Councillor Declan McDonnell joins me on the line today. Councillor McDonnell good morning to you

Declan: Good morning keith

Keith: Thanks for joining us...CCTV, and the whole introdcution of CCTV. The infrastructure is in Mill Street,.. the permission has been sought by the DoJ, Deparment of Justice, from Galway City Council to locate them. Currently where are we at with this?

Declan McDonnell: Well, the closing date as I understand for submissions was, I think the beginning of this week, I think the 21st of October. And, As I understand from my enquiries yesterday and talking to local media, there have been seven submissions and observations made by people from Galway. Amm, some politicians and some others. and amm.. I am a bit disapppointed...

Keith: When you say submissions, submissions or objections which?

Declan McDonnell: Well there are some 7 submissions, and between the two the some 7 submissions and observations.

Keith: So is this going to delay the implementation, because we did get a commitment from Dónal Ó Cúláin, the Superintendent, that these CCTV Cameras would be installed as soon as possible.

Declan McDonnell: My information that I can establish at this point in time Keith, is that there won't be a delay, and that by this day week there will be a decision. But I mean the disappointing aspect of it Keith is that five cities and towns are the latest ones that are being done Dubdalk, Limerick, Bray, Galway and Waterford. In Dundalk, Limerick and Waterford there wasn't even an observation or a submission and in Bray there was one and Galway has seven. And I think you just make you own observations on that.

Keith: Again, when you say your're disappointed. It is people's democtratic right to view and express their opinions.

Declan McDonnell: I accept all of that, but I mean what the, what is CCTV going in for.It's going in as a policing aid, it's going in to make the city centre, and Salthill, and the outskirts of the city safe for the elderly, for people who go out for a few drinks or a meal and want to walk home and get a safe passage, who want to get to a taxi in a safe environment.

Keith: But that's all basic human rights.

Declan McDonnell: Yes, well it is, and I mean the [?] on your programme on a number of occaions have had cases of public order and at Eyre Square and other places. This is a deterrent towards that, it's policiing aid to stop that, and to let people feel safe in getting home in the evening, in the day-time, this is not just about night-time, this is about all 24 hours of the day.

Keith: Do you believe that it will stay on track, and do you believe that the DoJ, Department of Justice - I shouldn't call it that, that they will make decisions with Galway city council within a week to prcoeed.

Declan McDonnell: Yes, that is my information as of 15 minutes ago. They have people looking at the submissions of the observations. I mean the ad that said that it was to do with all the submissions and observations should do with the propoer planning and sustainable development that's under the planning act 2001, under that guideline, and my understanding from one of the local media yesterday who has read two of the submissions or observations is that they do not have anything to do with planning but talking about CCTV, and therefore I am very confident that by next Friday or as soon as the department, and I am assured by people that this decision will be made within a week.

Keith: So it's not on hold then.

Declan McDonnell: It's not on hold. And actually yesterday just to make sure that things were kept on track I met with the director of services Tom Hernon, and the senior executive engineer Joe Tansey, with regard to the ducting [?] because I already chaired a meeting two months ago with the contractor and with the Guards, and with the corporation officials, and just to follow up that yesterday I met with the director of it Joe Tansey and I was assured by Galway Corporation and by John Tierney this morning that whatever has to be done by the city council to keep everything on track for the date that we want it implemented, they won't be found wanting.

Keith: When can you see finally the cameras rolling and the recording...

Declan McDonnell: Well, talking to the sargent on the day that he was putting up the planning notices in Galway City and to the contractor, if there is a decision next Friday I am confident that we will have some cameras working for Christmas.

Keith: You'd be that confident.

Declan McDonnell: Yeah, well that was what he told us at the meeting in August. That if there was no hold up, on the planning side of it, hopefully that there will be a decision next Friday to proceed. Am.. he was confident that a number of cameras would be in place and working by Christmas.

Keith: Allright

Declan McDonnell: And amm, do'you know I'm delighted that this is happening, it's good for Galway, and the Heart of Galway, who have been campaigning, and that this is what you have been complaining, I think Joe Carroll, and Robert Blako,and a number of, Mary Bennet, Ray O' Brien, and all of those from the Heart of Galway have been complaining for a long, long time, for five years [?], long before I got involved, and I think they are the people who deserve the credit for what is happening.

...............[moves on to another topic]