He's ready for the long haul and, judging by comments he has made at the launch about "serial objectors" opposing much-needed development and city councillors opposing his transformation of a site with "outmoded and ugly" buildings for shortterm political gain, he's ready for a bare-knuckle fight.

There will, of course, be objections about the over-development of Ballsbridge. But Sean Dunne is correct to argue that this important area of the capital is not a village anymore.

He is also correct to assert that it needs a massive injection of public facilities such as the shops, leisure centre, theatre, skating rink, restaurants, cultural centre and hotel he hopes to build . . . along with very lucrative apartments and embassy accommodation . . . to help it evolve into a self-sustaining quarter of huge importance to the entire capital.

His plans, which include a spectacular centrepiece of a diamond-shaped 132m tower, have been designed by Henning Larssen, one of the world's leading architects, and are of considerable architectural merit, fulfilling in a physical way so many of the theories about good planning that are more often observed in the breach than in the construction.

This is no cheap, money-making scheme. It's a serious venture with the potential to transform an entire neighbourhood in a manner similar to what happened, albeit on a larger scale, in Dublin's much-admired and still expanding docklands.

Of course, Dunne hopes to make a good profit: that is what his business is all about and he is risking a lot on the venture . . . as is his neighbour, Glenkerrin's Ray Grehan, who launched his equally interesting plans earlier in the month.

The debate about this development should not be nasty, brutish and parochially anti-developer. Everyone from city councillors to local people and planning officials within Dublin City Council need to treat it with the respect it deserves.

If, after proper evaluation, it can be shown it needs modification, so be it. But kneejerk opposition to a seriously exciting and visionary approach to the transformation of an entire Dublin suburb is precisely what's not needed.