Dublin is a much less liveable city than it used to be because of our ‘can’t do attitude’, Shane Coleman has said.

The capital has fallen seven places in the latest Global Liveability Index (GLI) – a list of the world’s most liveable cities compiled by The Economist.

Dublin’s fall from 32nd to 39th is one of the biggest falls of any cities on a list that ranks Vienna, Copenhagen, Zurich, Melbourne and Calgary as the world’s most liveable cities.

On Newstalk Breakfast, Shane said people in the capital “need a change in mindset” if the city is to become a more pleasant place to live.

He said the plans to water down and potentially delay the new Dublin City Transport Plan highlight how hard it has become to reimagine the city.

“I think this is very much linked to what we were talking about yesterday because I think we have a ‘can’t do’ philosophy in this country and I think it’s hindering our city,” he said.

"What do we need? I think we need that transport plan happening and not constantly deferring it.

“I think we need BusConnects; I think we need every retailer and landowner not objecting to every step of the way in BusConnects."

Dublin from River Liffey.

Shane said he was ambivalent about the construction of the Metro but said planning reform could have a transformative impact.

“We can debate whether or not we need a Metro - I don’t think one line is going to make a massive difference… but maybe that is the way to go. 

“I think we need much better planning; I’m not saying there should be a blanket opposition to opposing developments because sometimes developments are wrong and badly done – but I think we need to think twice before objecting.

"I think politicians across all the political parties and independents need to think twice about that.”

Law and order

One key factor in Dublin’s fall down the GLI index was the riots that took place in the city centre last year.

Fellow presenter Ciara Kelly said she too feels there needs to be more focus on law and order.

“To me, what Dublin needs more than anything to be a liveable city is a clampdown on antisocial behaviour,” she said.  

“As a person who doesn’t live here but works here every day, I am tired of seeing people stumbling around off their heads on drugs. 

“I’m tired of seeing the litter, I’m tired of seeing the dirt but the antisocial element of Dublin – I think we need a much stronger… Garda presence. 

“I would like to see Guards all over the shop - like I see in other countries in Europe.

“If you travel to Barcelona or Paris or so many countries on continental Europe, you will see the police standing around and vans.” 

Vienna took the top slot in The Economist’s Global Liveability Index, while Damascus in war-torn Syria was ranked last.

Main image: Split of Shane Coleman and Dublin