Madam, - Why is there no depth to the reporting of the anti-bin charges protests? It is not just a case of irresponsible people wanting something for free. And those of us who think a "fiver" per bin is not much to ask are right, but we should not be so smug about being on the side of right when we pay.
I'm far from being a socialist, but I do realise that that waste management is fundamental to the proper running of a country and should be dealt with in a consistent way on a national basis.
The current payment scheme is a clever little innovation by a government that knows it needs to raise taxes to cover the cost of basic services, but has instead decided to squeeze more money out of people by charging separately for the essentials and using the main budget for things we can do little about.
Waste disposal is a basic environmental and health and safety issue and should be priority number one for local authorities. Instead, local authorities squander untold sums on their hopelessly inefficient administration and their state of the art office buildings and then have the gall to demand more money for an essential service.
I propose that we pay for waste disposal, healthcare and education from our pooled revenue, and then let the Government ask us to contribute, say a "fiver", to office suites, expense accounts and tribunals. -Yours etc.,
GRETA MORRISSEY, Coliemore Road, Dalkey, Co Dublin.
Madam, - Do the Gardai not have an obligation to prevent people from blocking county council lorries? These protesters have the right to protest, but what about the council workers who wish to work? Can the protesters not simply be moved aside in order to allow the lorries to leave their compounds? - Yours, etc.,
GEAROID O CUANACHAIN, Kilcoole, Wicklow.