Madam, - I was delighted to see Colm Mac Eochaidh's letter of April 15th commenting on the inadequacy of our local government system.
However, critical and all as he was, the reality is even worse. If it were only the words of the Taoiseach and the Minister we had to worry about, we could live with it. However, it is the precise legislative measures they have introduced that are causing the problem.
The appalling Environmental Protection Act, changes in the Planning Acts, the continued interference in traffic policy, all allied to the virtual destruction of our local government system, will be the legacy of Ministers Dempsey and Cullen.
More importantly, because Ministers move on, they are the shameful legacy of a Department of State deeply hostile to the very concept of local government power and reform.
The latest in this list now is the extraordinary act to deny the people of our towns and cities the right to elect their own mayor which was due to come into effect in May next year. This legislation is being pushed through the Oireachtas as I write.
Such a mayor, serving a five-year term, would have been a major counterbalance to the overweening influence and power of the Department of the Environment and Local Government and central Government generally.
That is why they have abandoned it and that is why we should not let them get away with it. - Yours, etc.,
Cllr DERMOT LACEY,
Lord Mayor of Dublin,
Mansion House, Dublin 2.