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Reposted by Michael Pidgeon

Green Party / Comhaontas Glas @greenpartyie.bsky.social · 1d

The Residential Zoned Land Tax #RZLT is essential to take land hoarders to task and ensure that our many empty sites lying idle in the country are put to use.

Government loopholes are gutting the Land Hoarding Tax. Empty sites stay empty. Hoarders keep winning.

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Reposted by Michael Pidgeon

Roderic O’Gorman TD @rodericogorman.bsky.social · 1d

Over the summer, the Government raided the Climate & Nature fund to pay for gaps in their infrastructure bill. Today's Budget could have fixed that and committed new investment for nature and the environment.
Unfortunately, there has been no change in their approach. A wasted opportunity.

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Reposted by Michael Pidgeon

Roderic O’Gorman TD @rodericogorman.bsky.social · 1d

Nothing in the Budget to advance a Public Model of Childcare.
Big reforms like this take time, need to be supported through each budget. The Government is failing to progress this vital reform that will address affordability and capacity.

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Michael Pidgeon @pidgeon.ie · 1d

Myself and the Greens worked out how to give more to small biz while spending a third of what they've just announced.

It was just one of many ways you could target the scheme properly. But they're just doing a big, expensive cut.

Big surpluses make lazy politicians.

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Michael Pidgeon @pidgeon.ie · 1d

I still can't believe that they're doing this. Giving a massive VAT tax break that'll do very little for small cafés and restaurants, while giving millions to big chains.

Weak, unfocused governance. They're too comfortable chucking out our tax money.

Green Party / Comhaontas Glas @greenpartyie.bsky.social · 1d

It's official. They're giving big restaurant chains a massive tax cut, costing nearly €700m in the #VAT cut to hospitality.

For that kind of money you could:

👨‍👩‍👦‍👦 Bring in a second tier of child benefit - lifting 55,000 children out of poverty
🚌 Make public transport free

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Michael Pidgeon @pidgeon.ie · 4d

Electric taxi grants are really effective: they target some of the most heavily used vehicles on our roads.

The grants are always oversubscribed: the @greenpartyie.bsky.social is calling for the budget to be doubled.

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Michael Pidgeon @pidgeon.ie · 6d

BIG update in the ongoing battle for pitches in Dublin 8: public consultation has just opened on what is needed for a successful pitch facility at Marrowbone Lane.

It's open until 21st October 2025: engage.dublincity.ie/en-IE/projec...

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Reposted by Michael Pidgeon

Green Party / Comhaontas Glas @greenpartyie.bsky.social · 6d

We’re deeply saddened to hear of Manchán’s passing. A candidate for the party in 2016, he was more importantly a passionate and skilled advocate for Irish language and culture, and an appreciation for the beauty and importance of nature.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam

RTÉ News @news.rte.ie · 6d

The writer, broadcaster and documentary maker Manchán Magan has died at the age of 55, his family has confirmed

Broadcaster and scríbhneoir Manchán Magan dies aged 55

The writer, broadcaster and documentary maker Manchán Magan has died at the age of 55, his family has confirmed.

www.rte.ie

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Michael Pidgeon @pidgeon.ie · 6d

Probably the most important thing the government could do this budget? Start saving.

Deeply unsexy policy, I know, but I've seen first hand what happens when a government just spends everything immediately - without looking to future crises and the threat of climate change.

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Reposted by Michael Pidgeon

Green Party / Comhaontas Glas @greenpartyie.bsky.social · 6d

Ireland's enviable budget surplus should be spent on essential capital infrastructure - that includes projects like DART+ and Metrolink, but also investment in public-built housing, water and energy infrastructure.

@hazelchu.bsky.social shares one element of our alternative budget proposal.

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Michael Pidgeon @pidgeon.ie · 6d

A big blanket VAT cut? It's a bad idea. Better to give smarter, more targetted supports for cafes and restaurants.

We've set out a way to give more to small businesses while spending about a third of what the government are planning.

Be smart: do more, spend less!

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Michael Pidgeon @pidgeon.ie · 6d

Ireland is in a corporation tax gold rush.

The Green Party is warning govt not to fritter it all away on scattergun projects and temporary measures - rather than saving for future challenges like climate change.

Here's our 9 key ideas for #Budget26:

greenparty.ie/news/greens-...

Greens warn Government is “drifting without direction” in pre-Budget submission | Green Party

greenparty.ie

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Michael Pidgeon @pidgeon.ie · 12d

Today at 1pm, the Ireland Carnival Against Racism! Meeting at the Garden of Remembrance - see you there!

🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🌍🌎🌏

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Michael Pidgeon @pidgeon.ie · 20d

Councillors had to fight to secure a pitch for Marrowbone Lane in Dublin 8.

We used our zoning powers to do it: I'm really glad that things are moving forward now, but want to be clear: we won't be rezoning the site until we're happy that a suitable pitch is being delivered.

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Michael Pidgeon @pidgeon.ie · 20d

Moving things forward on Marrowbone Lane pitch!

The council will launch a public consultation on their ideas for getting a pitch and modern depot at Marrowbone Lane in Dublin 8.

It'll go live the week of the 29th September 2025. Watch this space!

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Michael Pidgeon @pidgeon.ie · 20d

The best way to do it is to allow local councils to set their own rates - meaning they can choose the best rate for their area.

It's what they do in every EU state with a hotel charge (except Malta!)

I'll be speaking to Q102 on this at 6:20pm today

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Michael Pidgeon @pidgeon.ie · 20d

A hotel bed tax is a small charge that can make a big difference to a city. That's why two thirds of EU countries allow councils to have one.

Just a tiny 1% charge would raise €12m a year for Dublin City - enough to hire 250 street cleaners.

www.thejournal.ie/dublin-count...

Dublin's four councils convene to push for local tourist tax

Labour Councillor Dermot Lacey has called the pushback from hoteliers “laughable”

www.thejournal.ie

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Reposted by Michael Pidgeon

Green Party / Comhaontas Glas @greenpartyie.bsky.social · 27d

In the first 231 days of the last government, 27 pieces of legislation were enacted.

This government has passed only 10 within the same number of sitting days.

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Michael Pidgeon @pidgeon.ie · 27d

Isn't Ireland's existing housing stock primarily built for families? I think that's the missing part of this analysis. New housing stock doesn't need to be built to match total housing demand, but instead to fill in the gaps in existing provision. Seems to be a huge amount of family-sized homes.

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Michael Pidgeon @pidgeon.ie · Sep 5

Thanks to everyone at the cycle bus for the invite to join them today!

If interested, they meet every Friday at DID Electrical in Crumlin to go to the schools on Basin Lane.

Drop me a message if you want contact details or to join!

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Michael Pidgeon @pidgeon.ie · Sep 4

Free public transport for under 9s.

The @greenpartyie.bsky.social fought for it, got the budget for it, and now it's done.

If you've got a kid under 9, register here: leapcard.ie

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Michael Pidgeon @pidgeon.ie · Sep 3

Construction now underway on Dublin's newest bridge, from the War Memorial Gardens to the northside.

(Featuring a lovely example of Ray's excellent timing on camera: @ray-cunningham.bsky.social)

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Michael Pidgeon @pidgeon.ie · Sep 3

Visited nine local primary schools this morning to stand with school caretakers and secretaries.

They're on strike for basic pension parity with their colleagues. They need your support - drop a quick message to your local government TD to say you support the strikers!

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Michael Pidgeon @pidgeon.ie · Sep 1

Bike bunkers for Dublin!

Progress: contracts are signed with Bleeper Bike to provide 300 of them across the city. It's been an inexcusably long wait, but glad that it *finally* moving forward.

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Michael Pidgeon @pidgeon.ie · Aug 27

@ray-cunningham.bsky.social and I will share any plans once they're released - but in the meantime, what would you like to see done?

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