UNA LOFTUS,
Madam, - Dublin City Council is facing abolition because it will not accept a €36 increase in bin charges. If this happens, the Minister for the Environment, Mr Cullen, will appoint a Commissioner answerable only to him and whom, we can be reasonably sure, will promptly adopt the rates estimates. So not only will we have the increased waste collection bills, but we will have lost democratic representation at local level.
It is true that a big percentage of citizens did not bother to vote at the local elections in 1999. However, those of us who did should be appalled that a majority of those whom we elected, are willing to walk away from their responsibilities.
Because no matter which way they present it, that is what they are doing. The estimates will be passed either way. The councillors should stop trying to score points off their political opponents and accept that the best way that they can serve their constituents is to adopt the estimates presented by the City Manager and ensure that they remain in a position to work for the good of the citizens.
For a democracy to work it is necessary to compromise from time to time. If our councillors cannot accept this fact, they may discover at the next election that the voters will not thank them for depriving them of representation. - Yours, etc.,
UNA LOFTUS, Seafield Avenue, Clontarf, Dublin 3.