Sir, - Mr Gerry Murphyd of Dublin Corporation (November 14th) assures us that there is no lack of transparency or commitment to the public consultation in relation to the Dublin Port Tunnel. He refers to the geological information which, he states, was given to the Marino Development Action Group at their request. However, he omits to mention that this data was only supplied a full seven weeks after the initial request, following repeated reminders, solicitors' letters political representations, and publicity in the local and national press.
On November 7th various resident community groups, public representatives and other interested individuals, arrived at the Civic Offices by invitation to take part in a "consultative group" meeting to discuss the draft Development Plan Variation process. We were told that the City Manager had decided to suspend all such "consultative" meetings' until after the variation process was finalised.
What's the point in starting consultation after a decision on the variation process has been arrived at? Talking about transparency and consultation is obviously different to practising these virtues.
When the new City Manager was appointed earlier this year, much media comment was devoted to his novel management strategy of taking his staff out on bus tours to view, meet and listen to the people. Perhaps he is waiting until a tunnel is built, for fear that if they were to travel on the surface, contact might be made with the citizens of Dublin. - Yours, etc.,
Marino Development Action Group, 24 Annadale Crescent, Marino, Dublin 9.