Sir, – Former Green Party councillor and Irish Times columnist Sadhbh O’Neill (“Ecological crisis demands involving young people in decision making”, Opinion, March 28th) wants age quotas and term limits to be added to the restrictions imposed on the electorate on their choice for local government representatives. I also want to see more young people involved in politics but the selection of public representatives must remain an unfettered decision of the people. Having served on Dublin City Council since 1993 and re-elected at every election since, neither my commitment nor energy has dimmed in the slightest. Indeed if you compare my submissions, motions and questions to the council against that of many of my younger colleagues, the balance would clearly be in my favour. Yes, we should support and encourage under-represented groups and individuals to enter politics but us “more experienced” ones have a lot of life left in us yet. There are new ideas about housing, waterways, local infrastructure, planning and more that I want to pursue. There is also the longstanding but necessary battle to reform local government that is so necessary for our country. At the end of the day, the people, through casting their votes at the ballot box will decide – and I am glad of that. – Yours, etc,
Cllr DERMOT LACEY,
Labour,
Dublin 4.