Greta Thunberg to be awarded Freedom of Dublin, four years after nomination first rejected

Swedish environmentalist Greta Thunberg is to be awarded the Freedom of the City of Dublin, four years after her nomination was rejected by the then Lord Mayor Nial Ring.

On Monday night city current Lord Mayor Caroline Conroy formally nominated Ms Thunberg, as well as Irish environmentalist Duncan Stewart for the honour.

The nominations were approved by councillors, despite dissent from a number of Independent councillors who said Ms Thunberg’s nomination amounted to “greenwashing” of the poor record of the Green Party in Government.

Ms Conroy said both environmentalists had made “significant contributions to the future of our city and more widely our county and world” in their “passionate” pursuit of environmental causes.

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“I couldn’t think of any other Irish person who had done more over such a long period of time to spread the word about environmental issues than Duncan,” she said. “Greta has been a significant presence on the international stage, particularly in rallying young people to the climate challenge.”

Those who were awarded the Freedom of the City accepted a duty to defend Dublin from attack, Ms Conroy said. “The greatest threat to the freedom of our city is climate change and biodiversity loss.”

Independent councillor Pat Dunne, said Ms Thunberg’s nomination was an attempt “to use her activism and reputation to boost the Green Party”.

Niall Ring said he didn’t believe Ms Conroy had decided herself on the nomination but that it was an edict from “the Green Party hierarchy”. Ms Conroy said the suggestion she hadn’t “a mind of her own” was insulting and Mr Ring later apologised for the remark.

Mannix Flynn said it was “cronyism of the highest order” and “outrageous” given how “filthy, dirty and manky” the city was. “This is greenwashing of the highest order” he said

However, councillors of all parties said they would be supporting both nominations.

Labour councillor Dermot Lacey said it was “one of the saddest debates” he has seen on what should be a “moment of celebration”. It was appropriate he said that the Green Party lord mayor would confer the award on two environmentalists.

Sinn Féin’s Micheal Mac Donncha said the debate showed a degree of political immaturity. “The nomination of these two individuals is very appropriate.”

Mr Ring had in 2019 rejected the suggestion he as lord mayor would nominate Ms Thunberg for the award saying the award should be reserved for “those who had done something for, or have a singular connection with, Dublin or Ireland”.

Meanwhile the council has allocated additional resources to “deep clean” the city centre following complaints of dirty streets following the prolonged dry spell.

“Waste management services are aware that as we enter into the summer months visitor and tourist numbers are increasing in the city, outdoor dining has become the norm, all of which adds extra pressure and challenges to the delivery of the waste management service, and particularly during prolonged dry spells,” John Flanagan head of Environment with the council said.

“Steps have been taken to allocate extra resources to arrears of high footfall,” he said and more would be directed if needed “to maintain a clean and litter free city”.