Sir, – Further to recent correspondence on this page, some of which has been factually incorrect, as chairman of the new Liffey bridge naming committee, I have been scrupulously fair and all our procedures have been transparent. After each meeting we immediately issued a press statement detailing the remaining names and inviting comment from the public.
We looked carefully at every suggestion, based on criteria determined prior to the committee being established. There were 85 different suggestions for one bridge. The Abbey Theatre came through the first two de-selection processes and was included in the final 10 names considered. The fact that the Abbey was in the last 10 surely shows that it was not easily disregarded.
At each stage, committee members were asked if they required a direct presentation on the remaining names. On each occasion, they decided they did not.
The non-inclusion of the Abbey does not reflect any negative view on the National Theatre. It was a process of whittling down a lot of good names to enable the full council an opportunity to come to an agreed and consensus decision.
It was the most collegiate committee that I have worked with in my 21 years on the council and I am proud of the sincerity and commitment of the members and the integrity of their recommendations.
While there may be an alternative proposal put forward, my preference is that we do not reopen the process and that the council would choose by preference vote from the final five names submitted.
I believe that anything else is unfair to the nearly 15,000 people who made submissions and who supported the 80 names already deleted.
The process that we have undertaken has been transparent, democratic and fair. While I have every respect for the Abbey Theatre, I also have respect for the five names remaining on the list and believe that it is from these that the council should choose a name. – Yours, etc,
Cllr DERMOT LACEY,
Beech Hill Drive,
Donnybrook,
Dublin 4.
Sir, – How about naming the new Liffey bridge “The New Liffey Bridge” and let’s move on to more important matters. – Yours, etc,
KEVIN McDONNELL,
Berrings,
Co Cork.