September 27th 2021
Delma Sweeney
Today’s Speakers are Maggie Hayden and Ben Dundon, from the Samaritans
Forthcoming Speakers and Events
Oct 4th Peter Feeney, former Press Ombudsman
Oct 11th Polio Plus, the need to continue
Oct 18th Katrina Buckley, Men’s Aid
Oct 25th Public holiday – no meeting
Nov 1st Business meeting
Nov 6th & 7th Visit by members of the Rotary Club Bonn. Nov 8th Shabnam Vasisht - Digging up the Raj in Deansgrange cemetery.
Nov 15th Dr Richard Conway – Disorders of the immune systems – a mystery
Nov 22nd The Egyptian Ambassador
Dec 6th Special General Meeting
Dec 13th Christmas lunch
20th to 22 May 2022, Copenhagen Rotary Club: The 2022 Premio Leonardo da Vinci meeting
President Elect David Booth was in the Chair at our meeting last Monday in the Grand Canal Hotel.
Visitors and Apologies
At last weeks’ meeting we had 19 members in attendance.
Apologies were received from 13 members as follows: Patrick White, Dermot Knight, PP Paul Martin, Roger Owens, Barra Emmanuel, Sinem Balta, Mary O'Rafferty, PP Ethna Fitzgerald, Rana Al Damin, Alan Harrison, Vasily Ogievsky, Alexander Kopf, PP Mariandy Lennon, PP Randal Grey and Derek Bell.
PP Bernadette introduced one guest Cormac Trant (soon to be member), who was welcomed by PE David.
Thought for the Day
Kenneth Carroll asked us in the spirit and bonds of Rotary to consider the Rotary Club of Kabul and the people of Afghanistan, who are living in difficult times. The students who attend the Co-educational school for boys and girls, La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Club School in Jalalabad, are threatened because of the Taliban and the economic state of the country. He asked us in the spirit of Rotary to send thoughts and prayers in the sincere hope that the people of Afghanistan will come through.
Rotary Rangers’ Schedule
September 28th Deerpark, Powerscourt October 5th Devils Glen, Ashford, Co. Wicklow October October 12th Paddock Hill, Laragh October 19th Fananerrin Ridge, Glenmalure Valley October 26th Black Hill & Sorrel, West Wicklow.
Hoping that you will make an effort to support these walks with your presence.
Secretary’s Announcements
• Secretary Tony has heard from Emmely Patrasso (Austria) saying that she hopes to find accommodation that day. He commented that we are having many requests about student accommodation.
• Tony reminded us to watch and listen to a recording of the Rotary International Peace Concert of classical music held on the previous Saturday and for which he has sent a link by email.
• He informed us of a request from GB&I for assistance in relation to the Bikes to Africa scheme. PP Alan informed our meeting that the South Dublin Recycle Center have installed a container in which bikes can be collected.
• A Rotary District Council meeting will be held on Saturday 25th.
President’s Announcements
• PE David reminded us that members of the Rotary Club Bonn will be visiting us on the First Saturday in November overnight for thirty hours.
• David contacted Belfast Rotary member, David Boyd, a schoolmate, to extend the hand of friendship. David Boyd reported that their club has been risk averse, and are continuing to hold Zoom meetings. They are emerging slowly from Covid restrictions. They will be in touch when their club is back fully in action.
Members Wishing to Speak
• A raffle will be held in aid of the Samaritans initiative next Monday. The prize is 4 bottles of wine. Delma reminded us to bring cash to buy tickets.
Electric Vehicles
PP Tom introduced Brian Cooke, Director General, Society of Irish Motor Industry.
Brian started his talk by describing three types of cars, fossil, hybrid and electric. Electric cars have been with us since the 1800s, however the battery was heavy, with travel distance of 20 to 30 miles. Brian recollected the electric milk float of old, one of the first electric vehicles that was in wide use. At the present time there are 30k electric cars out of the total of 2 million in Ireland. This number is increasing by multiples in the coming years, 4k going to 8k this year and 16k next year. Change is happening very fast. The government’s target is to have 40% of all vehicles, electric by 2030. Brian urged us to take a drive in an electric car and experience how easy it is to drive.
Fossil fuel is finite and going to run out by mid-century. The motor industry started to invest early in 1990 in alternatives to fossil fuel. The car industry are not climate deniers. They have invested €50 billion into the development of electric cars. The targets set in Ireland are ahead of the rest of Europe. While electric cars are expensive at present, at the end of this decade there will no difference in cost between a petrol and an electric car. The current barriers are a shortage of semi-conductors which impacts on availability. The costs of production are high. Battery technology is not at full potential. The need to increase charging points also hinders the purchase of electric cars, however these are increasing rapidly. Home night-time charging of vehicles makes their running costs far cheaper. There are new exciting technologies, with more developments to come. Longer distance range for travel (600 kilometres) is coming. The lifetime of batteries is lengthening. The running and maintenance costs of electric vehicles are lower. They are the best environmental choice as 95% of every part is recyclable.
PP Derek Griffith gave the vote of thanks for a most interesting presentation