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'No climbing' signs erected at Dalkey Quarry

'No climbing' signs erected at Dalkey Quarry

RTÉ News​a day ago
Mountaineering Ireland has said it is engaging with Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council after the erection of no climbing signs at one of the most popular sites in Ireland for rock climbers.
The signs appeared recently at Dalkey Quarry and the local authority said it "has prohibited rock climbing activities at Dalkey Quarry, effective immediately".
"This decision has been taken as a precautionary measure pending the completion of a comprehensive safety assessment at the site," said the council.
The quarry has been used by rock climbers for decades and has more than 300 recorded climbing routes.
Mountaineering Ireland CEO Liam Feeley said the majority of his organisation's climber members use the area and it is an important venue for any climber in Leinster.
He told RTÉ News he did not know what had prompted the council's decision.
Mr Feeley said Mountaineering Ireland is working with council officials and he added that changes to the Owners Liability Act, which came into effect in 2023, reduces the liability of the council to claims by climbers if they suffer an injury.
The Act now provides a defence of voluntary assumption of risk, as a visitor or recreational user of an area can be judged by their words or actions to have accepted a risk and that would leave the owner with no liability.
Representatives of Mountaineering Ireland hope to meet council officials before the end of the month to find a resolution "that will work for everyone", added Mr Feeley.
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'No climbing' signs erected at Dalkey Quarry
'No climbing' signs erected at Dalkey Quarry

RTÉ News​

timea day ago

  • RTÉ News​

'No climbing' signs erected at Dalkey Quarry

Mountaineering Ireland has said it is engaging with Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council after the erection of no climbing signs at one of the most popular sites in Ireland for rock climbers. The signs appeared recently at Dalkey Quarry and the local authority said it "has prohibited rock climbing activities at Dalkey Quarry, effective immediately". "This decision has been taken as a precautionary measure pending the completion of a comprehensive safety assessment at the site," said the council. The quarry has been used by rock climbers for decades and has more than 300 recorded climbing routes. Mountaineering Ireland CEO Liam Feeley said the majority of his organisation's climber members use the area and it is an important venue for any climber in Leinster. He told RTÉ News he did not know what had prompted the council's decision. Mr Feeley said Mountaineering Ireland is working with council officials and he added that changes to the Owners Liability Act, which came into effect in 2023, reduces the liability of the council to claims by climbers if they suffer an injury. The Act now provides a defence of voluntary assumption of risk, as a visitor or recreational user of an area can be judged by their words or actions to have accepted a risk and that would leave the owner with no liability. Representatives of Mountaineering Ireland hope to meet council officials before the end of the month to find a resolution "that will work for everyone", added Mr Feeley.

Steve Dempsey: Big Tech bleating about EU AI rules little more than a fear of a basic level of oversight and respect for copyright
Steve Dempsey: Big Tech bleating about EU AI rules little more than a fear of a basic level of oversight and respect for copyright

Irish Independent

time4 days ago

  • Irish Independent

Steve Dempsey: Big Tech bleating about EU AI rules little more than a fear of a basic level of oversight and respect for copyright

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Article 53 also ensures model providers adhere to EU copyright law and must publicly publish a detailed summary of the training data used. This aims to shed light on datasets, sources, and potential inclusion of copyrighted material. So really, all this quibbling boils down to a level of transparency, societal oversight and a respect for copyright. It's understandable that technology companies are bristling. China isn't tying itself up in this level of bureaucracy, right? The EU's history with tech regulation, such as the GDPR, have often set up roadblocks for users rather than truly protecting privacy. And there's a significant opportunity cost to complying with this level of oversight. How is big tech supposed to move fast and break things with European technocrats looking over their shoulders? But then again, maybe that's the point. When it comes to a technology that might take all our jobs or wipe us all out – depending on who you talk to – maybe a bit of technocratic oversight isn't a bad thing? We know from recent history what happens if Silicon Valley's needs are put ahead of society's. Perhaps the artists and creators who have warned against favouring big tech capital over copyright aren't just protecting their own livelihoods. They're doing us all a favour.

New chairperson being sought for National Milk Agency
New chairperson being sought for National Milk Agency

Agriland

time5 days ago

  • Agriland

New chairperson being sought for National Milk Agency

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