Barry McMullin
@autofac.bsky.social
Stranger in a strange land - aren't we all? Engineering academic #Decarbonisation #ComplexSystems. #CarbonAbolitionist #AndACyclist he/his
Why "autofac" you say? Well ... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autofac
And: http://www.eeng.dcu.ie/~mcmullin/
Why "autofac" you say? Well ... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autofac
And: http://www.eeng.dcu.ie/~mcmullin/
Pinned
Barry McMullin
@autofac.bsky.social
· Nov 16
postcarbonireland.org: GE2024
www.postcarbonireland.org
Update on petition for a dedicated #IE
#GE2024 Leaders' Debate on the Climate & Biodiversity emergency:
www.postcarbonireland.org/GE2024/
#GE2024 Leaders' Debate on the Climate & Biodiversity emergency:
www.postcarbonireland.org/GE2024/
Much good food for thought here. Worth mulling whether any "core" state (say a supposedly "post-colonial" one) is willing to help rather than hinder (yes IE, I'm looking straight at you!).
Useful as always - @jasonhickel.bsky.social short primer on Samir Amin's concept of delinking to consider how it can be achieved in the 21st century.
jasonhickel.substack.com/p/what-is-de...
jasonhickel.substack.com/p/what-is-de...
What is delinking?
A crucial strategy for transformation in the 21st century.
jasonhickel.substack.com
November 26, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Much good food for thought here. Worth mulling whether any "core" state (say a supposedly "post-colonial" one) is willing to help rather than hinder (yes IE, I'm looking straight at you!).
Reposted by Barry McMullin
Suspect many of you know that I didn’t buy into the Islamic teachings of my childhood but one thing I can get on board with is its suggestion that you donate a minimum percentage (2.5?) of your wealth to charity every year.
It may or may not be a large amount but it is by definition a small proportion. Strange that people who obviously think about money all day long can't grasp this.
@zackpolanski.bsky.social wants to introduce a wealth tax of 1% on assets of over £10m & 2% on assets over £1bn & if the super rich want to leave the UK because they are being taxed a tiny amount more then we should wave them goodbye
Thatcherite John Redwood says 1% isn't a tiny amount.
Thatcherite John Redwood says 1% isn't a tiny amount.
November 26, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Suspect many of you know that I didn’t buy into the Islamic teachings of my childhood but one thing I can get on board with is its suggestion that you donate a minimum percentage (2.5?) of your wealth to charity every year.
Reposted by Barry McMullin
A special thanks to the local community, An Taisce, the Irish Wildlife Trust, the Native Woodland Trust, and ReWild Wicklow for pushing for this. Special thanks to Jennifer Whitmore who never gave up and Min Noonan and O Sullivan for listening & securing the site for the Irish people.
November 26, 2025 at 1:18 PM
A special thanks to the local community, An Taisce, the Irish Wildlife Trust, the Native Woodland Trust, and ReWild Wicklow for pushing for this. Special thanks to Jennifer Whitmore who never gave up and Min Noonan and O Sullivan for listening & securing the site for the Irish people.
Reposted by Barry McMullin
None of our institutions or our government should be using Twitter/X for public service announcements. It’s like employing Joseph Goebbels to be your PR guy.
The LUAS Red Line was thrown into chaos at rush hour this evening due to an incident at St James's. In order to find out what was going on with the service, the LUAS expected thousands of affected passengers to check their X account. It's ridiculous, enraging, and at this stage totally unacceptable
I posted on X for the first time In ages. Immediately deleted the post. Holy Christ. It’s bad bad. Like sticking your head in a wasps nest
November 26, 2025 at 7:31 AM
None of our institutions or our government should be using Twitter/X for public service announcements. It’s like employing Joseph Goebbels to be your PR guy.
Reposted by Barry McMullin
Government goes cold on ordering new trains, so 41-year-old Dart fleet — breaking down daily — to keep causing issues for rail network for years
A conservative approach by the Department of Transport to ordering replacement Dart train carriages will lead to increased reliability issues on the…
A conservative approach by the Department of Transport to ordering replacement Dart train carriages will lead to increased reliability issues on the…
Government goes cold on ordering new trains, so 41-year-old Dart fleet — breaking down daily — to keep causing issues for rail network for years
A conservative approach by the Department of Transport to ordering replacement Dart train carriages will lead to increased reliability issues on the Dublin rail network, likely cost the State more when the trains are ordered, and will delay the expansion of other train services, it has been claimed. Earlier this year, the Department of Transport claimed the delay in ordering the trains -- replacements for the existing 41-year-old Dart carriages, which are suffering daily breakdowns and affecting local and intercity services -- was due to a review of the National Development Plan.
irishcycle.com
November 25, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Government goes cold on ordering new trains, so 41-year-old Dart fleet — breaking down daily — to keep causing issues for rail network for years
A conservative approach by the Department of Transport to ordering replacement Dart train carriages will lead to increased reliability issues on the…
A conservative approach by the Department of Transport to ordering replacement Dart train carriages will lead to increased reliability issues on the…
"Where is the kindness when we talk about trans people?"
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
Kathy Sheridan: Where is the kindness when we talk about trans people?
Number of trans people in Irish society is tiny – and each one is a human being
www.irishtimes.com
November 26, 2025 at 8:28 AM
"Where is the kindness when we talk about trans people?"
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
Reposted by Barry McMullin
"Green Party transport spokesman Feljin Jose, a Dublin city councillor, said the motion for judicial review was “deeply disappointing news”"
www.thejournal.ie/metrolink-ju...
www.thejournal.ie/metrolink-ju...
South Dublin residents launch legal challenge against MetroLink, raising fears of delay
The judicial review will have its first hearing before the courts next week.
www.thejournal.ie
November 25, 2025 at 12:47 PM
"Green Party transport spokesman Feljin Jose, a Dublin city councillor, said the motion for judicial review was “deeply disappointing news”"
www.thejournal.ie/metrolink-ju...
www.thejournal.ie/metrolink-ju...
Reposted by Barry McMullin
Join us, the Energy Policy and Modelling Group
@ucc.ie, and guests including former climate ministers Eamon Ryan and Denis Naughten, in a morning dedicated to discussing climate action and energy security:
📆 December 15th
📍 Engineers Ireland, Dublin
🔗 Register: www.eventbrite.com/e/ucc-energy...
@ucc.ie, and guests including former climate ministers Eamon Ryan and Denis Naughten, in a morning dedicated to discussing climate action and energy security:
📆 December 15th
📍 Engineers Ireland, Dublin
🔗 Register: www.eventbrite.com/e/ucc-energy...
November 25, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Join us, the Energy Policy and Modelling Group
@ucc.ie, and guests including former climate ministers Eamon Ryan and Denis Naughten, in a morning dedicated to discussing climate action and energy security:
📆 December 15th
📍 Engineers Ireland, Dublin
🔗 Register: www.eventbrite.com/e/ucc-energy...
@ucc.ie, and guests including former climate ministers Eamon Ryan and Denis Naughten, in a morning dedicated to discussing climate action and energy security:
📆 December 15th
📍 Engineers Ireland, Dublin
🔗 Register: www.eventbrite.com/e/ucc-energy...
Reposted by Barry McMullin
Stop the uberisation of taxis! Don't let them pull us in yet another race to the bottom.
Taxi drivers have a simple solution - they need a 'not-for-profit' taxi app from the NTA.
Uber uses surge pricing and charge people more when it’s busy. They give drivers and customers less control.
Taxi drivers have a simple solution - they need a 'not-for-profit' taxi app from the NTA.
Uber uses surge pricing and charge people more when it’s busy. They give drivers and customers less control.
Paul Murphy TD calls for 'not-for-profit' taxi app from NTA to fight 'Uberisation' of sector
It comes after taxi drivers staged a large protest in Dublin earlier this month.
www.thejournal.ie
November 25, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Stop the uberisation of taxis! Don't let them pull us in yet another race to the bottom.
Taxi drivers have a simple solution - they need a 'not-for-profit' taxi app from the NTA.
Uber uses surge pricing and charge people more when it’s busy. They give drivers and customers less control.
Taxi drivers have a simple solution - they need a 'not-for-profit' taxi app from the NTA.
Uber uses surge pricing and charge people more when it’s busy. They give drivers and customers less control.
Reposted by Barry McMullin
A lot to unpack there, but imo most people want to do the right thing by the future, but don't have the time or head space to understand what's really going on.
They wrongly believe the lies they're fed, and presume if climate breakdown was serious, governments and the media would be freaking out.
They wrongly believe the lies they're fed, and presume if climate breakdown was serious, governments and the media would be freaking out.
November 25, 2025 at 5:35 PM
A lot to unpack there, but imo most people want to do the right thing by the future, but don't have the time or head space to understand what's really going on.
They wrongly believe the lies they're fed, and presume if climate breakdown was serious, governments and the media would be freaking out.
They wrongly believe the lies they're fed, and presume if climate breakdown was serious, governments and the media would be freaking out.
Reposted by Barry McMullin
Iceland has designated the potential collapse of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) a national security concern and an existential threat.
Yet still fossil fuel usage continues to grow, and they barely agreed to *name* the problem at #COP30.
www.reuters.com/sustainabili...
Yet still fossil fuel usage continues to grow, and they barely agreed to *name* the problem at #COP30.
www.reuters.com/sustainabili...
Iceland deems possible Atlantic current collapse a security risk
Iceland has designated the potential collapse of a major Atlantic Ocean current system a national security concern and an existential threat, enabling its government to strategize for worst-case scenarios, the country's climate minister told Reuters.
www.reuters.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Iceland has designated the potential collapse of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) a national security concern and an existential threat.
Yet still fossil fuel usage continues to grow, and they barely agreed to *name* the problem at #COP30.
www.reuters.com/sustainabili...
Yet still fossil fuel usage continues to grow, and they barely agreed to *name* the problem at #COP30.
www.reuters.com/sustainabili...
[Read alongside: "US presses Europe on rules for big tech companies": www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... ]
November 25, 2025 at 10:32 AM
[Read alongside: "US presses Europe on rules for big tech companies": www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... ]
Reposted by Barry McMullin
Dairy plant suspends production after further pollution incident in Cork river
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
Dairy plant suspends production after further pollution incident in Cork river
Repeated problems at North Cork Creameries came to light during investigation into Blackwater fish kill
www.irishtimes.com
November 24, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Dairy plant suspends production after further pollution incident in Cork river
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
Reposted by Barry McMullin
Excellent piece by Sadhbh o'Neill about the car-centric approach to transport. I have absolutely no doubt that virtually none of our elected reps rely on public transport to go about their daily lives.
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
Climate: Imagine how different things would be if politicians had to use public transport
Long lead-in times, a lack of sustained policy commitment, and start-stop approaches to big projects all contributed to where we are now
www.irishtimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 7:46 AM
Excellent piece by Sadhbh o'Neill about the car-centric approach to transport. I have absolutely no doubt that virtually none of our elected reps rely on public transport to go about their daily lives.
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
Reposted by Barry McMullin
Not because I had a small part to play but because now more than ever we need to amplify kindness and human connection, let me share with you the Tale of Kathleen & John
After I had given directions to Kathleen (as I was to learn was her name) she headed off with her trusty walking frame, Esmeralda
After I had given directions to Kathleen (as I was to learn was her name) she headed off with her trusty walking frame, Esmeralda
A woman steps into the shop: Where do I vote?
Me: Are you looking for Carysfort National School?
Her: Yes, I feel it's my duty, I turned 97 yesterday!
#Áras25
Me: Are you looking for Carysfort National School?
Her: Yes, I feel it's my duty, I turned 97 yesterday!
#Áras25
November 9, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Not because I had a small part to play but because now more than ever we need to amplify kindness and human connection, let me share with you the Tale of Kathleen & John
After I had given directions to Kathleen (as I was to learn was her name) she headed off with her trusty walking frame, Esmeralda
After I had given directions to Kathleen (as I was to learn was her name) she headed off with her trusty walking frame, Esmeralda
Reposted by Barry McMullin
This is particularly stunning because the sheer number of times we demonstrated Bjorn Lomborg was just flat-out lying grew so large that it almost became literally pointless to keep doing it, because he just ignores it and keeps on going
November 23, 2025 at 3:14 PM
This is particularly stunning because the sheer number of times we demonstrated Bjorn Lomborg was just flat-out lying grew so large that it almost became literally pointless to keep doing it, because he just ignores it and keeps on going
Reposted by Barry McMullin
Great graph. My bad going right to "flaring" - the flame in the cover image - without reading useful (but flawed) article. It conflates "venting" strong greenhouse gas methane to the atmosphere vs "flaring" ie burning which adds plain CO2. Wasteful but less globally suicidal.
Shame on US...
1/2
Shame on US...
1/2
November 19, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Great graph. My bad going right to "flaring" - the flame in the cover image - without reading useful (but flawed) article. It conflates "venting" strong greenhouse gas methane to the atmosphere vs "flaring" ie burning which adds plain CO2. Wasteful but less globally suicidal.
Shame on US...
1/2
Shame on US...
1/2
Reposted by Barry McMullin
Great to see some strong EPA enforcement against North Cork Creameries for continuing to breach their licence.
They're not allowed to discharge again until the EPA are satisfied they'll be compliant with their licence, which, given their track record, won't be easy
thecurrency.news/articles/208...
They're not allowed to discharge again until the EPA are satisfied they'll be compliant with their licence, which, given their track record, won't be easy
thecurrency.news/articles/208...
North Cork Creameries temporarily halts production after EPA wasterwater order - The Currency
North Cork Creameries has temporarily ceased production at its major dairy facility in Kanturk after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a notice to suspend all discharges from its wastew...
thecurrency.news
November 24, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Great to see some strong EPA enforcement against North Cork Creameries for continuing to breach their licence.
They're not allowed to discharge again until the EPA are satisfied they'll be compliant with their licence, which, given their track record, won't be easy
thecurrency.news/articles/208...
They're not allowed to discharge again until the EPA are satisfied they'll be compliant with their licence, which, given their track record, won't be easy
thecurrency.news/articles/208...
Reposted by Barry McMullin
How many years in prison did climate protesters get dor doing this?
Angry farmers take part in go-slow protests on roads across UK ahead of Budget
Angry farmers take part in go-slow protests on roads across UK ahead of Budget
Angry farmers take part in go-slow protests on roads across UK ahead of Budget
www.independent.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 1:52 PM
How many years in prison did climate protesters get dor doing this?
Reposted by Barry McMullin
Irish government plans to follow the UK in making it harder for refugees to secure permanent settlement are “deeply alarming”, the Irish Refugee Council has said.
Irish asylum plans ‘will undermine refugee integration’
Irish government plans to follow the UK in making it harder for refugees to secure permanent settlement are “deeply alarming”, the Irish Refugee Council has said.
www.irishlegal.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Irish government plans to follow the UK in making it harder for refugees to secure permanent settlement are “deeply alarming”, the Irish Refugee Council has said.
Reposted by Barry McMullin
Sounds funny today, but not long ago, the use of bicycles by women was considered *extremely* radical & dangerous--to be discouraged, even by supporters of women's right to vote.
All bc bicycles allowed women a tiny bit of freedom & mobility, without needing things a male guardian could withhold.
All bc bicycles allowed women a tiny bit of freedom & mobility, without needing things a male guardian could withhold.
Suffragist and educator Frances Willard riding her bicycle, Gladys (because it made her glad).
“I learned to bicycle when 50... and I think it is one of the best things I ever did. What pleases me is to see other worn-out women take it up, and find a new lease of health and life thereby."
“I learned to bicycle when 50... and I think it is one of the best things I ever did. What pleases me is to see other worn-out women take it up, and find a new lease of health and life thereby."
November 24, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Sounds funny today, but not long ago, the use of bicycles by women was considered *extremely* radical & dangerous--to be discouraged, even by supporters of women's right to vote.
All bc bicycles allowed women a tiny bit of freedom & mobility, without needing things a male guardian could withhold.
All bc bicycles allowed women a tiny bit of freedom & mobility, without needing things a male guardian could withhold.
"Let me break it to you gently: it is entirely possible for people of colour and the descendants of immigrants to be disingenuous and use their identities as excuses for their terrible politics..."
Mahmood would rather soothe the racists than do the “hard work of confronting the economic failure… and cowardice that has enabled the rise of the far right.”
As if making life even worse for immigrants will make our country happier and better off.
It won’t.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
As if making life even worse for immigrants will make our country happier and better off.
It won’t.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Shabana Mahmood is an avatar of open Britain – that’s what makes her fable about immigration so seductive | Nesrine Malik
‘She is the daughter of immigrants,’ supporters of her cruel asylum policies say. ‘How can she be wrong?’ Let me put them straight, says Guardian columnist Nesrine Malik
www.theguardian.com
November 24, 2025 at 11:15 AM
"Let me break it to you gently: it is entirely possible for people of colour and the descendants of immigrants to be disingenuous and use their identities as excuses for their terrible politics..."
Reposted by Barry McMullin
Mahmood would rather soothe the racists than do the “hard work of confronting the economic failure… and cowardice that has enabled the rise of the far right.”
As if making life even worse for immigrants will make our country happier and better off.
It won’t.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
As if making life even worse for immigrants will make our country happier and better off.
It won’t.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Shabana Mahmood is an avatar of open Britain – that’s what makes her fable about immigration so seductive | Nesrine Malik
‘She is the daughter of immigrants,’ supporters of her cruel asylum policies say. ‘How can she be wrong?’ Let me put them straight, says Guardian columnist Nesrine Malik
www.theguardian.com
November 24, 2025 at 7:36 AM
Mahmood would rather soothe the racists than do the “hard work of confronting the economic failure… and cowardice that has enabled the rise of the far right.”
As if making life even worse for immigrants will make our country happier and better off.
It won’t.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
As if making life even worse for immigrants will make our country happier and better off.
It won’t.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Barry McMullin
'Cash is here to stay': why cash is king in emergency planning. Analysis by Olive McCarthy @ucc.ie www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2...
'Cash is here to stay': why cash is king in emergency planning
Governments are increasingly advising people to keep cash on hand for emergencies which may severely impair electronic payments systems
www.rte.ie
November 24, 2025 at 7:56 AM
'Cash is here to stay': why cash is king in emergency planning. Analysis by Olive McCarthy @ucc.ie www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2...
Reposted by Barry McMullin
Late to this, excellent piece and factual rebuttal of John Collison’s ‘how to get Ireland moving’ by @andrewlrjackson.bsky.social
we should never take democracy or the rule of law for granted – they must be nurtured and defended by each generation…
elajucd.com/2025/11/21/o...
we should never take democracy or the rule of law for granted – they must be nurtured and defended by each generation…
elajucd.com/2025/11/21/o...
On Environmental Democracy and the Collisons’ “Abundance-Verse”
Andrew Jackson 21 November 2025 I. Introduction A clamour of praise greeted John Collison’s “how to get Ireland moving” Op-Ed following its publication in the Irish Times on 25th October: the Irish…
elajucd.com
November 24, 2025 at 8:12 AM
Late to this, excellent piece and factual rebuttal of John Collison’s ‘how to get Ireland moving’ by @andrewlrjackson.bsky.social
we should never take democracy or the rule of law for granted – they must be nurtured and defended by each generation…
elajucd.com/2025/11/21/o...
we should never take democracy or the rule of law for granted – they must be nurtured and defended by each generation…
elajucd.com/2025/11/21/o...