Letter to the editor: Where is local democracy?
The Editor,Letters Page,The Irish Times.
Dear Editor,
Cllr Maeve O’Connell ( letters 13th August) and subsequently others asked “Where is local democracy – in relation to cycle ways”?. Sadly, not just on cycleways, but our local democracy has been consistently dismantled by a succession of Local Government Ministers culminating in its virtual destruction by former Minister Phil Hogan, aided and abetted by the then Tanaiste and leader of my own Party.
That policy agenda is and has been assisted by deplorable lack of knowledge in the media on how our Local Government system ( doesn’t) work.
Until those of who believe in local government and the principle of subsidiarity contained in the European Union treaties fight back the centralisation of our Governmental system will continue and the housing, transport, environmental and other problems will grow with them.
Yours sincerely,
Councillor Dermot Lacey
