MARY BANOTTI, MEP,
Sir, - In a report about the West Kerry Roads Action Group, Dick Hogan refers to "the little-known petitions committee" of the European Parliament (The Irish Times,January 23rd).
The committee, of which I am a member, fulfils a unique parliamentary role. Approximately 17 years ago you published a letter in which I informed your readers about this committee and as a result the number of petitions to the European Parliament rose by 400 per cent!
At our meeting in Brussels last week there were no fewer than five petitions from Ireland relating, among other issues, to Kerry roads, Vehicle Registration Tax, the cost of British magazines and the collapse of Lloyds Bank.
In addition we are dealing with topical issues such as the unfair dismissal of a British clergyman, the right to fuel allowances for British pensioners living in Spain, and a petition in the name of 4,976 Italian citizens regarding protecting children from paedophilia.
There are also a wide variety of petitions relating to environmental concerns in all EU countries.
I believe that if we had a petitions committee in Dáil Éireann, a great many people would be able to air the vast variety of issues which currently they believe can be solved only by individual TDs and senators.
This petitions committee is the only committee that gives citizens direct access to the European Parliament and it has resulted in some significant changes in European Law. - Yours, etc.,
MARY BANOTTI, MEP,
European Parliament Office,
Molesworth Street,
Dublin 2.