Funferal

Access to the Four Courts

Over at the Tuppenceworth Blog, Simon has been blogging about proposed changes to the Four Courts building in Dublin – specificallly proposals to erect railings, end access through the front door, and have limited facilities for entrance by the public. He’s putting his money where his mouth is (literally*) and has posted an objection he plans to file by Friday’s deadline. He’s inviting others to sign-on to his objection, which I must say is very well written and argued:

As quoted above, the reasons stated for these proposals are that homeless people sleeping there at night “gives rise to additional litter and occasional graffiti. Because of this use, the portico has to be washed down each morning, and sometimes obstruction occurs in the mornings.”
This is then, in effect, a plan to alter the main frontage of one of Ireland’s most admired buildings, as well as symbolically alter the relationship between the Justice system and the citizens it represents, because Courts Service officials don’t like tidying up the porch in the morning.
In addition, it is not appropriate for an office of the state to view some of its most vulnerable and ill-served citizens as inconveniences to be swept onto someone else’s front porch. It should be noted that homeless people have used this portico for shelter for some 25+ years, without impacting negatively on the daily workings of the Courts. The proposed architectural interventions are disproportionate to the reasons given.

I’ve signed on – hopefully some of you will see fit to do likewise.
* The Irish government recently introduced charges for those making objections to requests for planning permission – I understand it is currently €20, which is less than was originally proposed.