Sir, - Regarding Conor Sexton's letter on the New Conformity (31st January), I agree that political blandness has made. the publishing of unpopular opinions a dangerous business, but I am hard pushed to find any examples of the LUAS system being held up as a great patriotic venture.
Conor's letter would have us believe that it is up there with national unification, the Irish language and the myth of Irish tolerance, as one of our great sacred cows. On the contrary, the likes of Dublin Chamber of Commerce, Garret FitzGerald and Niall Andrews have all lined up to take pot shots at the whole concept but without offering properly worked out alternatives. The solutions that the critics of LUAS have come up with either do not add up to the same total twice (the unified concept springs to mind) or blithely assume that millions of pounds can be conjured up out of the air (thanks, Mr Commissioner, it will be ready for opening in 2047. Can we book a hotel for your successor for the ceremony?).
I found it laughable (but not incredible in the Irish context) that a non polluting system should be placed under the ground, whereas cars should continue to clog up our streets in the very heart of Dublin. Surely it is cars that should use tunnels at strategic points in the city? That would be a real solution, and not another win by the "do nothing except demolish" brigade, which has been responsible for the near destruction of Dublin over the last 40 years.
Yours, etc.
Beatty Park,
Celbridge,
Co Kildare.