An Taisce's role in planning

Madam, - Gavin Harte's attack on John Waters (Opinion & Analysis, July 19th) is a perfect example of why An Taisce needs …

Madam, - Gavin Harte's attack on John Waters (Opinion & Analysis, July 19th) is a perfect example of why An Taisce needs to be stripped of it statutory right to meddle in the planning process.

Throughout the 20th century Ireland suffered greatly because of its willingness to outsource important functions of the State, such as social welfare and education, to well-meaning third parties which operated outside the democratic process and inevitably pursued agendas of their own.

An Taisce is no different in this regard. While it may claim to have the interests of the country at heart, its willingness to pursue public vendettas against critics such as John Waters and make heated allegations about the planning applications of public figures such as Fintan O'Toole makes it very clear that it can not be trusted to make impartial and objective contributions to the planning process and therefore should not have a statutory role. - Yours, etc,

DAVID ROLFE, Leinster Road, Dublin 6.