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Professor John O’Brennan (19^th December) is correct to warn of the dangers to European Union values posed by Viktor Orban and an increasingly authoritarian Hungary.  However before we applaud too loudly for own brand of democracy we should reflect on the fact that in a recent Council of Europe, Congress of Local and Regional Authorities Report Hungary was the only European Union country deemed to have a worse system of Local Government than Ireland. Perhaps an Opinion Piece on that might be useful as we approach the Local and European elections.

Yours sincerely,

Councillor Dermot Lacey

Dear Editor,

There have been many Editorials, Opinion Pieces and Public comments on the authoritarian rule and form of governance operated by Victor Orban in Hungary. Irish diplomats have been playing a particularly important role in highlighting Irelands commitment to democracy.

As we head towards European and Local elections it is worth noting that, in the recent Council of Europe Congress of Local and Regional Authorities Report, Hungary was the only European Union country rated as having a worse system of Local Government than Ireland.

Perhaps given that many of our diplomats are such great champions of Democracy it is time to move the inhabitants of Iveagh House to the Custom House.

Yours sincerely,

Councillor Dermot Lacey

Dear Editor,

I note the comment from the Minister for Housing and Local Government ( Irish Times 30thNovember) that “Planners will clear bottlenecks that are stalling housing”. Any chance the Minister could ask his own Department to do the same for social and affordable housing.

Yours sincerely,

Councillor Dermot Lacey

Dear Editor,

In a thoughtful letter, about the stupid proposed rules on the use of Motorway Lay Bys,  Ray Bassett (17th November) hit on a telling point when he wrote: “Governments are there to enhance the quality of life of their populations”. Maybe Governments are….though at times I have doubts. 

What I do know is that increasingly the role of Senior Civil Servants and State Bodies is the very opposite. Protection of the Department and protection of the agency or QUANGO has increasingly become the norm in my experience. When we change that….we change Ireland.

Yours sincerely,

Dermot Lacey

Dear Editor,

The limited, uninspiring interpretation of the role of the President contained in the letter from Fine Gael Councillor John Kennedy ( 21st October) prompts me to reflect on why no Fine Gael nominee for the post of President has ever been elected by the Irish people. 

Yours sincerely,

Councillor Dermot Lacey

Dear Editor,

The ongoing attack on the Community Employment scheme by those in comfortable jobs continues. (Irish Times DPER Report 23rd September). 

As someone involved in initiating many such schemes since the mid 1980’s I have seen huge benefits to the individuals employed and the communities they have worked in. Perhaps if the officials responsible, stopped interfering in the aims of the schemes, limited their horrendous bureaucracy and actually started to help rather than hinder their success might be even higher.

Real people work on those schemes, providing real services to real communities …maybe we should instead conduct an evaluation of the benefits of DPER.

Yours sincerely,

Dermot Lacey