Category Archives: Uncategorized

Clueless!

Posted on November 29, 2016 by Neil van Dokkum

Irish rural communities have been opposing wind farms, and pylons before that, for the better part of a decade. This has involved community groups gathering funds through church collections, cake sales, and the like. There are numerous tales of hardship … Continue reading →

Posted in Academic Research; Peer-Review Process; Medical Journals, An Bord Pleanala; appeal; interested parties, Apple; Google; Data Centre, Arsin Demir, Çalık Holding; Turkey; EU; renewables, Brexit, BSB Community Energy Ltd, Cloud; iCloud; Data Centre; Data Center, Democracy; Ireland; Fine Gael; Labour; Sinn Fein; Workers; Constitution, Dr Sarah Laurie; Steve Cooper; Bob McMurtry; Alun Evans, EIA Directive 2014/52/EU, EirGrid; Insurance; Law; Cancer; EMF, EU Renewable Energy 2020 Target, Framore Limited, Freedom of Information; Access to Environmental Information; AIE; Commissioner for Environmental Information, Green Party; Ireland; Eamonn Ryan; Cormac Manning, High Court; Judge Caroline Costello; John Callaghan; Leave to Appeal, High Court; Judicial Review; Appeal on the merits; judicial discretion, Irish Farmers Association; IFA; wind farm contracts, judicial review; Wednesbury Test; O'Keeffe; rationality; Separation of Powers, Justine McCarthy; The Sunday Times; EMF, Kilvinane Wind Farm Ltd; substituted consent, Law; High Court; Leave To Appeal; Environment, Legal Costs; Access to Justice; Courts, lobbying; democracy; political process; general election, Ministerial Responsibility; Liability; Negligence; cardiovascular, Ms Justice Costello; Section 37A Planning and Development Act 2000;, North-South Interconnector; An Bord Pleanala, NREAP; National Renewable Energy Action Plan; EU Commission; Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee; ACCC, Pat Swords, Paudie Coffey; series compensation; Fine Gael; Alan Kelly; Alex White, Peremptory law; Directory Law; Planning and Devlopment Act of 2000, Planning and Development Act 2000; guidelines; directives; Sections 28 & 29, Planning Permission; Extension; Planning and Development Act, Press Freedom, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters; Aarhus Convention; Aarhus Treaty, Refugees; Apartheid; Kulaks; Stalin;, Section 35; ESB Act 1927; wayleave notice, South Africa, wind turbines, developing nations,, Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA); Grid 25; North-South Interconnector, The Spokes of the Wheel; wind farms; Ireland; Windfall, The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe’s (UNECE) Convention on Access to Information, Turkey; ABK Çeşme RES Enerji Elektrik Üretim A.Ş, Uncategorized, University Hospital Waterford, Val Martin, Wind Farm Contract, Wind Farm Guidelines, turbines, flicker, noise, distance, Denis Naughten, Wind Turbine Syndrome; Professor Alun Evans | Tagged Canada, DA, dizziness, EirGrid, Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, green, green energy, Ireland, renewable energy, renewables, suicide, tort, White Paper, wind energy, Wind farm, wind farms, Wind power, windfarms | 9 Comments

How the Council Spends Our Money — Citizens Against Corruption

Posted on November 21, 2016 by Neil van Dokkum

Congratulations to the Four Angry Ladies on starting this site, and asking questions that most are too scared to ask. I would ask two more: The link between the Comeragh Community Development Group and BSB Energy has already been established. … Continue reading →

Posted in Academic Research; Peer-Review Process; Medical Journals, Apple; Google; Data Centre, Arsin Demir, Çalık Holding; Turkey; EU; renewables, Brexit, BSB Community Energy Ltd, Cloud; iCloud; Data Centre; Data Center, Democracy; Ireland; Fine Gael; Labour; Sinn Fein; Workers; Constitution, Dr Sarah Laurie; Steve Cooper; Bob McMurtry; Alun Evans, EIA Directive 2014/52/EU, EirGrid; Insurance; Law; Cancer; EMF, EU Renewable Energy 2020 Target, Framore Limited, Freedom of Information; Access to Environmental Information; AIE; Commissioner for Environmental Information, Green Party; Ireland; Eamonn Ryan; Cormac Manning, High Court; Judge Caroline Costello; John Callaghan; Leave to Appeal, High Court; Judicial Review; Appeal on the merits; judicial discretion, Irish Farmers Association; IFA; wind farm contracts, judicial review; Wednesbury Test; O'Keeffe; rationality; Separation of Powers, Justine McCarthy; The Sunday Times; EMF, Kilvinane Wind Farm Ltd; substituted consent, Law; High Court; Leave To Appeal; Environment, Legal Costs; Access to Justice; Courts, lobbying; democracy; political process; general election, Ministerial Responsibility; Liability; Negligence; cardiovascular, Ms Justice Costello; Section 37A Planning and Development Act 2000;, North-South Interconnector; An Bord Pleanala, NREAP; National Renewable Energy Action Plan; EU Commission; Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee; ACCC, Pat Swords, Paudie Coffey; series compensation; Fine Gael; Alan Kelly; Alex White, Peremptory law; Directory Law; Planning and Devlopment Act of 2000, Planning and Development Act 2000; guidelines; directives; Sections 28 & 29, Planning Permission; Extension; Planning and Development Act, Press Freedom, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters; Aarhus Convention; Aarhus Treaty, Refugees; Apartheid; Kulaks; Stalin;, Section 35; ESB Act 1927; wayleave notice, South Africa, wind turbines, developing nations,, Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA); Grid 25; North-South Interconnector, The Spokes of the Wheel; wind farms; Ireland; Windfall, The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe’s (UNECE) Convention on Access to Information, Turkey; ABK Çeşme RES Enerji Elektrik Üretim A.Ş, Uncategorized, University Hospital Waterford, Val Martin, Wind Farm Contract, Wind Farm Guidelines, turbines, flicker, noise, distance, Denis Naughten, Wind Turbine Syndrome; Professor Alun Evans, Wind Turbines: Esen Fatma Kabadayi Whiting | Tagged accident, ANC, bald eagles, biomass, Canada, DA, depression, dizziness, eagle's nest, Ei, Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, green, green energy, Ireland, renewable energy, renewables, sleep deprivation, suicide, tort, vehicle, White Paper, wind, wind energy, Wind farm, wind farm noise, wind farms, Wind power, wind turbines, windfarms, Zuma | 1 Comment

Please Brexit in an orderly fashion

Posted on July 2, 2016 by Neil van Dokkum

Excellent blog by Martin Goodall. Brexit can only happen when the House of Commons makes it happen. Martin Goodall’s Planning Law Blog Is Brexit inevitable? Posted: 01 Jul 2016 04:15 AM PDT “Despite an occasional urge to blog on topics … Continue reading →

Posted in Brexit, Uncategorized | Tagged Brexit; referendum; EU; freedom of persons; United Kingdom; Scotland; Wales; Northern Ireland | Leave a comment

You Must Be Joking, Mr. Kelly!!

Posted on May 27, 2015 by Neil van Dokkum

The Independent reported on 25 May 2015 that the Labour Party parliamentary party will this week debate proposals to introduce new restrictions on the development of wind turbines close to people’s homes. Apparently Labour TDs and senators are demanding changes … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Aarhus Treaty; Aarhus Convention; UN; EU; windfarms; NREAP; Pat Swords; Rabbitte; environment; wind turbines; consultation; EirGrid;, Al;ex White TD; Green Paper on Energy Policy in Ireland; New Ross, Alan Kelly; Labour Party; wind turbines; setback distance, An Bord Pleanala; ESB; High Court; Peart J.; project splitting; EIS; environmental impact statement; Framore Limited; EcoPower; Ecopower Developments Limited; Waterford City Council; Waterford County , autism; special needs; aspergers; home education; Department of Education; autistic units; national schools; teachers; Education; human rights; ABA; speech therapy; play therapy; educational therapy; , bias; An Bord Pleanala; Paudie Coffey; Fine Gael; Fianna Fail; wind farms; planning permission; Supreme Court; High Court; EirGrid, BW Energy; ReThink Pylons; Green Paper on Energy; wind turbines; GridLink; EirGrid; biomass; Solar PV; renewable energy | 5 Comments

Turkish Court Shuts Down 50 Turbines: Yaylaköy Residents Delighted at 1st Chance to Sleep in Years

Posted on May 26, 2015 by Neil van Dokkum

Originally posted on STOP THESE THINGS:
Not an English word in sight. **** One of the myths pedalled by Australia’s self-appointed wind farm noise, sleep and health ‘expert’ (a former tobacco advertising guru) is that the known and obvious adverse…

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Limits on the Protective Costs Order under Section 50B

Posted on April 24, 2015 by Neil van Dokkum

If you litigate in court and lose, you will pay, big time. That is the general rule: the loser pays all the legal costs. This is known as the “costs follow the event” rule. There are some exceptions to the … Continue reading →

Suing the Government

Posted on April 14, 2015 by Neil van Dokkum

Francovich v Italy was a very important judgment handed down by the European Court of Justice in 1990. It was important because it established the principle that European Union member states could be liable to pay compensation to individuals who … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Aarhus Treaty; Aarhus Convention; UN; EU; windfarms; NREAP; Pat Swords; Rabb, Aarhus Treaty; Aarhus Convention; UN; EU; windfarms; NREAP; Pat Swords; Rabbitte; environment; wind turbines; consultation; EirGrid;, Aarhus Treaty; Aarhus Convention; UN; EU; windfarms; NREAP; Pat Swords; Rabbitte; environment; wind turbines; consultation; EirGrid; GridLink; John Lowry; Fine Gael; Fianna Fail; Labour Party; Green P, Al;ex White TD; Green Paper on Energy Policy in Ireland; New Ross, An Bord Pleanala; ESB; High Court; Peart J.; project splitting; EIS; environmental impact statement; Framore Limited; EcoPower; Ecopower Developments Limited; Waterford City Council; Waterford County , autism; special needs; aspergers; home education; Department of Education; autistic units; national schools; teachers; Education; human rights; ABA; speech therapy; play therapy; educational therapy; , bias; An Bord Pleanala; Paudie Coffey; Fine Gael; Fianna Fail; wind farms; planning permission; Supreme Court; High Court; EirGrid, Biowatch; Monsanto; genetic engineering; Aarhus; High Court; Baker J.; Hedigan J.; Panda Waste; Sillelagh Quarries Limited; McCoy; protective costs order; PCO; legal costs; lawyer fees; public interes, breaking the law; civil disobedience; morality; positivists; natural law; the Hart-Devlin debate; jurisprudence; apartheid; Mandela; Rivonia; moral imperative, BW Energy; ReThink Pylons; Green Paper on Energy; wind turbines; GridLink; EirGrid; biomass; Solar PV; renewable energy | 1 Comment

The Death of Local Government

Posted on March 20, 2015 by Neil van Dokkum

The Twentieth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland provided constitutional recognition of local government and required that local government elections occur at least once in every five years. It was effected by the Twentieth Amendment of the Constitution Act, 2001, … Continue reading →

The Business Plan of the Wind Industry

Posted on March 15, 2015 by Neil van Dokkum

The wind industry is here to make money. As we are in a capitalist economy, that is its prerogative. I just wish it would be honest about its true motive instead of portraying itself as an eco-warrior, which wind farmers … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Aarhus Treaty; Aarhus Convention; UN; EU; windfarms; NREAP; Pat Swords; Rabb, Aarhus Treaty; Aarhus Convention; UN; EU; windfarms; NREAP; Pat Swords; Rabbitte; environment; wind turbines; consultation; EirGrid;, autism; special needs; aspergers; home education; Department of Education; autistic units; national schools; teachers; Education; human rights; ABA; speech therapy; play therapy; educational therapy; , bias; An Bord Pleanala; Paudie Coffey; Fine Gael; Fianna Fail; wind farms; planning permission; Supreme Court; High Court; EirGrid, Catherine McGuinness; John Fitzgerald; Keith Bell; Karen Foley; Colm McCarthy; Pat Rabbitte; EirGrid cyclist; status; Road Traffic Act; interpretation; motorist; Special Olympics; Green Man Dr Graham , IWEA; Minister Simon Harris; Valuation Amendment Bill 2012; business plan; wind industry; valuations; rates; profits; multinationals; jobs; cost of living; Germany; EU, Pat Swords; High Court; Four Courts; Pat Rabbitte; NREAP; EirGrid; EU; wind energy; wind turbines; pylons; Labour; Fianna Fail; Sinn Fein; Green Party; Eamon Ryan, Rabbitte; cancer; EMF; expert panel; Catherine McGuinness; EirGrid; Chief Scientific Advisor; Michael Repacholi; WHO; ICNIRP; leukaemia; Dennis Henshaw; Dr Graham Roberts; Grid 25; Fianna Fail; Fine G, Rabbitte; FOI; Blueshirt; EirGrid; GridLink, Rabbitte; Phil Hogan; Office of the Chief Scientific Advisor; error; academic research; methodolgy; ethics; EirGrid; cancer; EMF; EMR; Dennis Henshaw; child leukaemia | 2 Comments

Energy efficiency is a form of energy

Posted on March 12, 2015 by Neil van Dokkum

Whilst this government is pushing the interests of its big business cronies in the wind industry, it is doing precious little when it comes to consumer education and other measures aimed at energy efficiency. Instead of forcing consumers to pay … Continue reading →

EirGrid brings in the heavies

Posted on March 9, 2015 by Neil van Dokkum

In its glossy brochure, “Reviewing and improving our public consultation process”. one of the better satirical publications of 2014; EirGrid set out three themes as to how it needed to improve its dealings with the public. . Theme 2 … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Aarhus Treaty; Aarhus Convention; UN; EU; windfarms; NREAP; Pat Swords; Rabb, Aarhus Treaty; Aarhus Convention; UN; EU; windfarms; NREAP; Pat Swords; Rabbitte; environment; wind turbines; consultation; EirGrid;, Aarhus Treaty; Aarhus Convention; UN; EU; windfarms; NREAP; Pat Swords; Rabbitte; environment; wind turbines; consultation; EirGrid; GridLink; John Lowry; Fine Gael; Fianna Fail; Labour Party; Green P, bias; An Bord Pleanala; Paudie Coffey; Fine Gael; Fianna Fail; wind farms; planning permission; Supreme Court; High Court; EirGrid, Coolnabacky; Laois; Kilkenny; An Bord Pleanala; Andrew Boyle; EirGrid; substation; 110kV; 400kV; Rabbitte; EirGrid; pylons; EMF; judicial review; High Court; appeal; justice; Fianna Fail; Fine Gael; L, EcoPower; Ecopower Developments Limited; Waterford City Council; Waterford County Council; wind farm; County Development Plan, EirGrid; heavies; bully boys; security; threat; land invasion; trespass; private property; broken promises, Irish Water; water charges; free water; water meters; Fine Gael; septic tanks; wells; private water; consumer protection, Pat Swords; High Court; Four Courts; Pat Rabbitte; NREAP; EirGrid; EU; wind energy; wind turbines; pylons; Labour; Fianna Fail; Sinn Fein; Green Party; Eamon Ryan, Rabbitte; cancer; EMF; expert panel; Catherine McGuinness; EirGrid; Chief Scientific Advisor; Michael Repacholi; WHO; ICNIRP; leukaemia; Dennis Henshaw; Dr Graham Roberts; Grid 25; Fianna Fail; Fine G, Rabbitte; Phil Hogan; Office of the Chief Scientific Advisor; error; academic research; methodolgy; ethics; EirGrid; cancer; EMF; EMR; Dennis Henshaw; child leukaemia | 1 Comment

RTS & Ors -v- An Bord Pleanála [2015] IEHC 18 – lessons learned

Posted on March 6, 2015 by Neil van Dokkum

The loss by the RTS Substation Group in their recent application for judicial review against An Bord Pleanala (ABP) was a massive blow to that community and I write this blog with some trepidation, as I know that hearts are … Continue reading →

Setback Distances from Wind Turbines / Wind Farms

Posted on March 5, 2015 by Neil van Dokkum

Due to a huge number of submissions from rural homeowners and the wind industry, new guidelines stipulating where wind farms can be built were not published last year. According to the Department of the Environment, over 7,500 submissions were received … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Aarhus Treaty; Aarhus Convention; UN; EU; windfarms; NREAP; Pat Swords; Rabbitte; environment; wind turbines; consultation; EirGrid;, Aarhus Treaty; Aarhus Convention; UN; EU; windfarms; NREAP; Pat Swords; Rabbitte; environment; wind turbines; consultation; EirGrid; GridLink; John Lowry; Fine Gael; Fianna Fail; Labour Party; Green P, autism; special needs; aspergers; home education; Department of Education; autistic units; national schools; teachers; Education; human rights; ABA; speech therapy; play therapy; educational therapy; , bias; An Bord Pleanala; Paudie Coffey; Fine Gael; Fianna Fail; wind farms; planning permission; Supreme Court; High Court; EirGrid, Catherine McGuinness; John Fitzgerald; Keith Bell; Karen Foley; Colm McCarthy; Pat Rabbitte; EirGrid, Catherine McGuinness; John Fitzgerald; Keith Bell; Karen Foley; Colm McCarthy; Pat Rabbitte; EirGrid cyclist; status; Road Traffic Act; interpretation; motorist; Special Olympics; Green Man Dr Graham , CSA; Chief Scientific Adviser; Professor Patrick Cunningham; Professor Denis O'Sullivan; EirGrid; E.ON International Energy; SSE Renewables; Pat Rabbitte; Paul Dowling; Aidan Corcoran, EirGrid; wind; wind turbines; Aarhus; environment; pylons; democracy; Ireland, Paudie Coffey; set-back distance; wind turbine; wind farm; 2006 Guidelines; Alex White; WHO; | 2 Comments

Rural Communities under attack from the State

Posted on February 28, 2015 by Neil van Dokkum

I received a letter from a member of the Ratheniska community which is battling An Bord Pleanala, the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, and EirGrid in their plan to build a massive substation which is intended to be … Continue reading →

Consultation on the Green Paper

Posted on February 22, 2015 by Neil van Dokkum

The Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (DCENR) is holding its final regional workshop on the Green Paper on Energy Policy next Friday, 27th February at the Brandon House Hotel in New Ross, commencing at 09.30am. See details at … Continue reading →

Posted in EirGrid; Insurance; Law; Cancer; EMF, Uncategorized | Tagged Aarhus Treaty; Aarhus Convention; UN; EU; windfarms; NREAP; Pat Swords; Rabbitte; environment; wind turbines; consultation; EirGrid;, Aarhus Treaty; Aarhus Convention; UN; EU; windfarms; NREAP; Pat Swords; Rabbitte; environment; wind turbines; consultation; EirGrid; GridLink; John Lowry; Fine Gael; Fianna Fail; Labour Party; Green P, Al;ex White TD; Green Paper on Energy Policy in Ireland; New Ross, autism; special needs; aspergers; home education; Department of Education; autistic units; national schools; teachers; Education; human rights; ABA; speech therapy; play therapy; educational therapy; , BW Energy; ReThink Pylons; Green Paper on Energy; wind turbines; GridLink; EirGrid; biomass; Solar PV; renewable energy, Catherine McGuinness; John Fitzgerald; Keith Bell; Karen Foley; Colm McCarthy; Pat Rabbitte; EirGrid cyclist; status; Road Traffic Act; interpretation; motorist; Special Olympics; Green Man Dr Graham , Rabbitte; cancer; EMF; expert panel; Catherine McGuinness; EirGrid; Chief Scientific Advisor; Michael Repacholi; WHO; ICNIRP; leukaemia; Dennis Henshaw; Dr Graham Roberts; Grid 25; Fianna Fail; Fine G, Rabbitte; Phil Hogan; Office of the Chief Scientific Advisor; error; academic research; methodolgy; ethics; EirGrid; cancer; EMF; EMR; Dennis Henshaw; child leukaemia | Leave a comment

The Statutory Functions and Powers of EirGrid

Posted on February 20, 2015 by Neil van Dokkum

My article on “The Statutory Functions and Powers of EirGrid” has been published in the Irish Law Times. The article examines the statutory functions of both the ESB and EirGrid with a view to comparing and contrasting the two in … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Aarhus Treaty; Aarhus Convention; UN; EU; windfarms; NREAP; Pat Swords; Rabbitte; environment; wind turbines; consultation; EirGrid; GridLink; John Lowry; Fine Gael; Fianna Fail; Labour Party; Green P, bias; An Bord Pleanala; Paudie Coffey; Fine Gael; Fianna Fail; wind farms; planning permission; Supreme Court; High Court; EirGrid, BW Energy; ReThink Pylons; Green Paper on Energy; wind turbines; GridLink; EirGrid; biomass; Solar PV; renewable energy, Electricity Regulation Act 1999; Electricity (Supply) Act 1927 | 5 Comments

RIP

Posted on February 4, 2015 by Neil van Dokkum

Dorothy Patricia van Dokkum (née Meade) 2 October 1932 – 3 February 2015 Today I mourn the passing of a wonderful lady who forever had a smile and a twinkle in her eye. Perhaps one day I will be able … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 5 Comments

The Autistic Child – inclusion or exclusion?

Posted on January 31, 2015 by Neil van Dokkum

Originally posted on From the Inside:
This is possibly my most favourite photograph of Ian, ever. It shows him interacting with two children who were two years younger than he was. Ian was 6, and they were both 4. At…

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

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