Madam, - I would like to echo the sentiments of Anthony Finnin (August 29th) in his call for the creation of a mid-west party. However, I feel it would be better to include the whole west of Ireland from Kerry to Donegal, as this side of the country has been neglected since the creation of the State.
All of the three major parties are responsible for the lack of investment in infrastructure in the western region. From the western rail corridor not being fully functional until 2012, to contaminated water in Galway for the past six months and Ennis for the past two years, and now to the downgrading of Shannon airport, it is plainly obvious that this region isn't being considered as part of the Republic of Ireland.
Does the population living west of the Shannon need to call on the aid of Brussels to be saved from our counterparts in Dublin? Why is there not a balanced view of development in this country? Every day we hear of the traffic problems in Dublin due to overdevelopment while there is no talk of developing the western seaboard. I won't hold my breath for a change in policy. - Yours, etc,
RICHARD CURTIN,
Galway.
Madam, - Anthony Finnin (29th August) calls for the creation of a mid-west party, with no set of principles other than, it seems, to hold the rest of the country to ransom to take more than its fair share of the national wealth.
If the mid-west had a spine, it would stop rattling its begging bowl at Dublin's taxpayers and instead look for what Scotland got: a regional government to run its own non-national affairs. You want more spending in the mid-west? Pay more taxes.
But it doesn't do that, because it is much easier to blame "them up in Dublin" than to take responsibility. Well, us "up in Dublin" are getting sick of it. - Yours, etc,
JASON O'MAHONY,
Stillorgan,
Co Dublin.
Madam, - Following on from Anthony Finnin's modest proposal, I suggest that a similar party in the mid-east be set up. Dublin alone having 47 TDs, this would finally give the greater Dublin area its rightful say within the State. One of its first actions could be the elimination of State subsidies to the west, releasing funds for the social and economic problems of the Dublin region. Of course, this presupposes that everybody in the greater Dublin area shares the same political outlook, such as appears to be the case west of the Shannon. - Yours, etc,
MICHAEL DUGGAN,
Glengarriff Crescent,
Dublin 7.