Dear Editor, Your correspondent Stephen Oliver Murray ( 9th October 2020) questioned the accuracy of my comments about the “theft of local councils powers” and the implication of same in relation to the non-protected status of 40 Herbert Park – the former home of The O’Rahilly. My simple points was that when I was first […]

The Editor, Letters Page, The Irish Times. Dear Editor, I welcome the article from Stephen Collins ( 9th October ) lauding the Government for their decision “to take back control from unelected public officials”. I look forward to future articles in The Irish Times supporting the transfer of powers from Chief Executives of Local Councils, […]

The Editor, Letters Page, The Irish Times. Dear Editor, Twice in recent weeks an Irish Times editorial has criticised the response of Dublin City Council to some key issues. On both issues I agree with the editorial view. However what I fail to ever see is an Irish Times Editorial or an Opinion piece, informed […]

The Editor, Letters Page, The Irish Times. Dear Editor, Over the last couple of months, despite Ms Sarah Moorehead SC in her Report on the work of Councillors, saying we have no  involvement in planning matters, I have tried to help and advise various residents groups with appeals to An Bord Pleanala. The residents have […]

The Editor,Letters Page,The Irish Times. Dear Editor, What is it about The Irish Times that it regularly published academic opinions on Local Government issues, publishes well meaning Editorials about the need for reform and yet day in day out excludes the voice of the practitioners at Local Government level from the narrative?  The latest example […]

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 […]

The Editor,Letters Page,The Irish Independent, Dear Editor,The article by Gordon Deegan regarding An Bord Pleanala overruling their own Inspectors reports was an interesting read. Over the last couple of months, despite Ms Sarah Moorehead SC bemoaning Councillors being involved in planning matters, I have tried to help and advise various residents groups with appeals to […]

The Editor,Letters Page,The Irish Times, Dear Editor,Senator David Norris questions the appropriateness of 800 Party members living outside the State having a perhaps determining input on the formation of Government here in the Republic of Ireland. He is right.Mind you I do not recall Senator Norris ever opposing the Seanad franchise being exercised by people […]

The Editor,Letters Page,The Irish Times. Dear Editor,Reading the report on the  Canal “liveaboards” and the response from Waterways Ireland I am once again struck by the role of the ( far too) many Quangos in Irish life.Is there role to serve their institution or the Irish public? Sadly in my experience too many of them […]

The Editor,Letters PageThe Irish Independent. Dear Editor,Tom Moloney (letters 10th June) questions the purchase of 61 apartments at the former RTE lands in Donnybrook for E30.2million by Dublin City Council. He also refers to an apparent lack of shops, schools and places of worship near the siteWithout commenting on the quality of the planning application […]