David Hutchinson Edgar
An Independent Voice for Community & Environment
About David
Community involvement
David Hutchinson Edgar lives in the Virginia Heights estate in Tallaght with his wife and two children. He is an active member of a several community organisations in the Tallaght Central area. He has been secretary of the residents association in my estate since he helped re-establish it several years ago. He is a founder and committee member of the Tallaght Residents and Community Umbrella group, which campaigns on planning, development and community issues. He is active in the Tallaght Hospital Action Group, which works to protect and improve services in Tallaght hospital.
As a community representative, David has regular dealings with bodies like South Dublin County Council or the Gardaí on many issues including
- litter and graffiti
- anti-social behaviour
- traffic
- controversial planning applications
- building site issues
- environmental improvements
Political Experience
David has been actively involved in politics since he was a student. He was a member of the Green Party for over ten years, and built up considerable experience in many areas of political life, including serving for four years on the party's policy-making National Council. He also worked for eighteen months as assistant to one of the Green Party's TDs, which gave him valuable insights into how Irish politics works at both local and national levels.
David resigned last year as the Green Party's nominee to run in the Tallaght Central area in the 2009 local elections. This was because he refused to support measures introduced by the government which hit vulnerable groups in our society - older people, people with disabilities, schoolchildren.
He also resigned from his job with the party, a very difficult decision in the present economic climate, but he believes very strongly that that it is important to stand up for what is right, and that politics needs people with integrity and courage, now more than ever.
About David
David was born in Donegal, but has lived in Dublin for over twenty years, since he was a teenager.
He worked for eleven years as a lecturer in Trinity College, and published several books on the history of the early Christian period, including one in the "Irish Treasures" series.
David is keen to promote awareness of local heritage, and is a member of South Dublin County Council's working group to prepare the county's first Heritage Plan.
Tá suim aige sa Ghaeilge, agus glacann sé páirt ó am go ham i gcláir ar TG4.
David is a qualified Pet Assisted Therapist, and works with his dog in a voluntary capacity with Alzheimer's and other patients in a local nursing home.
David has been a member of the National Executive of the Irish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament for several years, and is currently acting as their chairperson.
Tallaght Central Candidate - Local Elections 2009
