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Official opening ceremonies for roads

  • 22-12-2010 06:23PM
    #1
    Random
    Closed Accounts Posts: 19,080 ✭✭✭✭


    so i see they almost didn't open the new part of the m7 today because the transport minister couldn't do the official opening ceremony yesterday.

    is there anything to these ceremonys or is it all just an excuse for some press photos?


Comments

  • #2
    Victor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 78,654 ✭✭✭✭Victor


    Random wrote: »
    is there anything to these ceremonys or is it all just an excuse for some press photos?
    Largely. Some entertainment, food and beverages and a bit of back slapping.

    I was at the Luas B1 opening and Cowen did the opening, which surprised me. While yes, it is important to mark milestones, I would have much preferred him to be running the country. Combined with the substantial Garda presence (see Mary Harney and the red paint), having someone else do it would have been cheaper.


  • #3
    Capt'n Midnight
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 94,366 Mod ✭✭✭✭Capt'n Midnight


    with elections looming there are some who would show up for the opening of an envelope, even if it wasn't brown.


  • #4
    steph1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 564 ✭✭✭steph1


    Capt'n Midnight wrote: »
    with elections looming there are some who would show up for the opening of an envelope, even if it wasn't brown.

    :D:D:D


  • #5
    Random
    Closed Accounts Posts: 19,080 ✭✭✭✭Random


    personally i wish they'd just open these roads and get on with it. big fancy ceremonys are a walk of time and money for all concerned.


  • #6
    irishguy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,310 ✭✭✭irishguy


    Random wrote: »
    personally i wish they'd just open these roads and get on with it. big fancy ceremonys are a walk of time and money for all concerned.

    I agree, how much fecking money do they waste on ceremonies and signs. I dont give a crap that it was part funded my the EU or the Bowen group built it. Just open the dam thing!!!


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  • #7
    Red Alert
    Hosted Moderators Posts: 7,486 ✭✭✭Red Alert


    They should be opened immediately once the engineer's signed off that's it's ready to be used. Infrastructural projects don't need an official opening - maybe I should have a party every time I change a lightbulb?


  • #8
    Run_to_da_hills
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,009 ✭✭✭✭Run_to_da_hills


    Official opening ceremonies for roads is a pointless propaganda exercise and goes back in history.

    It makes me sick to see some of these people that ran our country into the ground frolicking about at these ceremonies.

    2kq845.jpg


  • #9
    Guy:Incognito
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 38,244 ✭✭✭✭Guy:Incognito


    Run_to_da_hills wrote: »
    Official opening ceremonies for roads is a pointless propaganda exercise and goes back in history.

    It makes me sick to see some of these people that ran our country into the ground frolicking about at these ceremonies.

    2kq845.jpg

    You forgot to work Id cards in there somewhere.


  • #10
    Run_to_da_hills
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,009 ✭✭✭✭Run_to_da_hills


    Guy:Incognito wrote: »
    You forgot to work Id cards in there somewhere.

    Don't worry, they are coming in 2011.

    The new RFID embedded credit card driving license, registered transit smart cards and welfare cards will be more effective than any reich pass that the Nazi's ever issued in that they will leave digital finger prints every time you tag on / off or have them swiped by the authorities with a hand held scanner. They can also be read by scanner even if they are concealed in your pocket. :eek:

    Also not to mention the ANPR/ RFID toll plaza gantries and Gatsos dotted in hundreds of locations about the countries infrastructure that will digitally track all your movements and store them for up to two years under current EU Data retention directives and can be used against you should you step out of line.


  • #11
    Flukey
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,005 ✭✭✭✭Flukey


    They are of course just a photo opportunity. Any politician that opens a road with a toll should immediately hand in their resignation for being involved in such a scandal.


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  • #12
    Run_to_da_hills
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,009 ✭✭✭✭Run_to_da_hills


    Flukey wrote: »
    They are of course just a photo opportunity. Any politician that opens a road with a toll should immediately hand in their resignation for being involved in such a scandal.
    Particularly when there has been such neglect on public transport infrastructure expansion over the boom years. We haven't even a metro FFS, apart from about 200 yards of recent cut and cover south of Dunlaoghaire Dart station. :p


  • #13
    Cookie_Monster
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,567 ✭✭✭✭Cookie_Monster


    Run_to_da_hills wrote: »
    Particularly when there has been such neglect on public transport infrastructure expansion over the boom years. We haven't even a metro FFS, apart from about 200 yards of recent cut and cover south of Dunlaoghaire Dart station. :p

    That section was originally covered, so we are only going back to what we had 100+ years ago with that. Hardly progress ;)


  • #14
    Run_to_da_hills
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,009 ✭✭✭✭Run_to_da_hills


    Cookie_Monster wrote: »
    That section was originally covered, so we are only going back to what we had 100+ years ago with that. Hardly progress ;)
    It was never converted into an underground until recently. :p


  • #15
    Cookie_Monster
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,567 ✭✭✭✭Cookie_Monster


    Run_to_da_hills wrote: »
    It was never converted into an underground until recently. :p

    when originally built that whole cutting was a tunnel. It collapsed a few months later


  • #16
    Victor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 78,654 ✭✭✭✭Victor


    Guy:Incognito wrote: »
    You forgot to work Id cards in there somewhere.
    Lets not go there. :)
    Run_to_da_hills wrote: »
    They can also be read by scanner even if they are concealed in your pocket. :eek:
    Then carry it with your coins.


  • #17
    Lapin
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 18,184 ✭✭✭✭Lapin


    Run_to_da_hills wrote: »
    Particularly when there has been such neglect on public transport infrastructure expansion over the boom years. We haven't even a metro FFS, apart from about 200 yards of recent cut and cover south of Dunlaoghaire Dart station. :p
    Cookie_Monster wrote: »
    That section was originally covered, so we are only going back to what we had 100+ years ago with that. Hardly progress ;)
    Run_to_da_hills wrote: »
    It was never converted into an underground until recently. :p
    Cookie_Monster wrote: »
    when originally built that whole cutting was a tunnel. It collapsed a few months later

    The solid granite surface beneath that section of track was a godsend during the original construction of the railway there as it provided a firm foundation for the track.

    However it proved to be a major headache when the section was being engineered in the early 80's to facilitate the Dart, as the track had to be lowered to accommodate the overhead power lines beneath bridges and tunnels.

    Sorry for straying off topic here


  • #18
    Run_to_da_hills
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,009 ✭✭✭✭Run_to_da_hills


    Victor wrote: »
    Lets not go there. :)

    Then carry it with your coins.
    Faraday signal blocking wallets are now on the market. :)

    http://www.difrwear.com/


  • #19
    xper
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,089 ✭✭✭xper


    Victor wrote: »
    ... Cowen did the opening, ... ... I would have much preferred him to be running the country. ...
    Given what he has done to the country while allegedly running it, I'd much prefer him to stick full time to speeches at the side of a new road. And sing-songs, I hear he's good at those.

    Road openings are just another political photo-op. I don't mind these as passing events so much. Its the feckin fancy stone or plaque at the roadside for years afterwards with Cllr. Gobsheen's or whoever's name inevitably taking prominent position on it that really annoys me, particularly when its something relatively small like a small town bypass. Infrastructure projects don't warrant such commemoration unless they are true landmarks or of significant national or at least regional importance.
    There must be six or seven such ridiculous commemorations on the few miles of the N11 between Donnybrook and Loughlinstown, each for a different section of the dual carriage way as it was completed piecemeal over 20+ years.


  • #20
    CIE
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,463 ✭✭✭CIE


    Random wrote: »
    so i see they almost didn't open the new part of the m7 today because the transport minister couldn't do the official opening ceremony yesterday.

    is there anything to these ceremon(ie)s or is it all just an excuse for some press photos?
    The latter. Just open the road and announce it on the news; the drivers can figure out what to do after that.
    Run_to_da_hills wrote: »
    Official opening ceremonies for roads is a pointless propaganda exercise and goes back in history.

    It makes me sick to see some of these people that ran our country into the ground frolicking about at these ceremonies.
    Your hotlinked photo says it all, never mind the comments elsewhere in the thread about Cowen "running the country"...because the country hasn't been run from Leinster House for a long time (your pic, ironically, says who has).


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