Madam, - Gerry Halley, a Fine Gael supporter (January 4th), wrote that if Martin Cullen lost his seat in cabinet, Waterford would be the main loser. R. McGrath (January 8th), a native of Waterford now living in Glasnevin, unfairly dismisses this as "myopic localism".
It seems to me what Mr Halley meant was that Mr Cullen had managed to focus State attention on Waterford, a city which has suffered from seemingly institutionalised government myopia, at times appearing to reflect a presumption against investment here. This is, after all, one of only five cities in the state.
I do not know when Mr McGrath left this city for Dublin, but surely he must be aware of at least some of the difficulties this area has faced, not least a horrendous deficit in infrastructure spread across many sectors.
The past decade has seen a true renaissance here, based largely on a welcome sense of State engagement with the development of the city.
Mr McGrath should contemplate the myopic centralism which is destroying Dublin by spreading it across most of Leinster, and maybe should have his own eyes tested for that Irish condition known as "I've made it to Dublin".
He might also reflect on the disadvantages still suffered by this area and on how he, as a doubtless proud Waterfordian, might assist in solving them.
Yours, etc.,
DES GRIFFIN, Lower Newtown, Waterford.