20th September 2002

PRESS RELEASE

GREEN PARTY TO CELEBRATE CAR FREE DAY WITH PALM TREES, BEACH AND DECK-CHAIRS IN CITY CENTRE

Green Party TD’s plan to erect an impromptu beach in Dublin City Centre to mark European Car Free day this Sunday.

TD’s and their families will be relaxing on their deck-chairs under the shade of temporary palm trees at the junction of Grafton Street and Stephens Green at 2 p.m. this Sunday.

“We are calling on Dublin City Council to organise a real Car-Free Day next year. Dublin is lagging behind other European cities that are closing of large sections of their city centres on Car Free Day ” stated Ciarán Cuffe TD, the Party’s Environment Spokesperson. “Paris closed off a large section of road beside the Seine for all of last August. We would welcome a similar initiative here. Stephens Green shouldn’t be a racetrack”

“Instead of closing off Middle Abbey Street we want to see larger areas closed to car traffic on car Free Day”, stated Eamon Ryan TD, the Party’s Transport spokesperson. “There  has been a lot of controversy over traffic changes recently. However we have a long way to go to make the City Centre a better place for pedestrians and cyclists as well as for children and older people”

The Party has tabled the following Motion to Dublin City Council:

“That the Director of Traffic organise a “Car-Free Quays” Sunday that would involve a limited pedestrianisation of some of Dublin’s Quays on a trial basis within the near future”

ENDS

For further information contact:

Ciarán Cuffe, TD    087 265 2075 or 618 3082

Stephen Rawson, Press Officer 087 235 7551 or 618 4088