The Labour Party in Dublin 4 has now added Maria Parodi to run alongside Cllr Kevin Humphreys for the Dublin South East Inner City Council four-seat electoral area.

She will be canvassing in a locality where the top issues are the City Council proposed municipal waste incinerator and the Dublin Docklands Development Authority plans for the Poolbeg peninsula.

This district includes Pearse St, Ringsend, Irishtown, Sandymount, Docklands, City Quay, Portobello, South Circular Rd and Kevin Street. Maria lives in The Bottleworks, Ringsend. Her reason for political involvement is about “enhancing the quality of life of people in our community.”

Maria has been active in the local community for several years and has assisted in various community initiatives with local organisations such as the Ringsend Action Project. She is also a member of the Ringsend and Irishtown Crèche Management Committee and supports the campaign to scrap the newly-introduced Community Childcare Subvention Scheme.

Maria strongly believes that it is essential to have ongoing open communication and consultation between residents and their elected representatives, in order to deliver the services that people in the area need and deserve.

As with the other councillors and candidates in the forthcoming local elections, she has actively canvassed against the incinerator in Dublin Bay. She is an active member of CRAI and has been involved in organising events to raise awareness and community support in opposition to the incinerator.

At the EPA oral hearing open day held on April 22nd 2008, she made a written objection to the proposed decision to award a waste licence to Dublin City Council for an incinerator located in Poolbeg saying “this incinerator is not in the best interest of the population or the environment and I strongly believe that this method relies on an outdated, inefficient approach to waste management.”

With the Environmental Protection Agency due to rule she says, “Ultimately, I strongly believe that the fight against the incinerator is not over. I do not think that the government can justify building it given the current economic situation and the global commitment to combat climate change.”

Some of her campaign priorities are “to ensure that access to adequate housing is a right and not a privilege and to continue fighting for improved public transport.” Along with other issues, Maria supports initiatives that plan to improve public lighting, traffic management and making the streets cleaner and safer.

Maria Parodi is concerned about developments for the district including the Docklands Development Authority proposals for the Poolbeg. She says “I firmly believe that it must be sustainable and take a community gain approach and I believe that this is an important issue which will have a huge impact on the communities of Ringsend, Irishtown and Sandymount. That is why I actively took part in the pre-statutory consultation process by attending an open day and the pre-statutory workshops. I believe that any future development in Poolbeg must address environmental concerns, include sufficient amenities and infrastructure, provide local jobs and an adequate mixture of social and affordable housing.”

With environment issues prominent in the locality she said, “I strongly believe that any future development in Poolbeg must take into consideration the EIS; particularly the effect it will have on wildlife and the existing nature preserve. I firmly believe that the environment is one of the most important issues affecting our generation and future development must take this factor into account.”

Maria Parodi is available to hear your issues and concerns and you can contact her on mariaparodi@votelabour.ie or 0857160742 or visit Maria’s website www.mariaparodi.ie