Sir, - County and city managers are surprised and annoyed at insinuations in recent articles in The Irish Times that one of the reasons for the alleged change in plans for directly elected mayors and council chairpersons is opposition from managers.
On behalf of the managers, IMPACT wishes to state categorically that any suggestion that they have expressed or implied any opposition to a new method for the election of mayors and chairpersons is completely without foundation.
As they have demonstrated since the local government management was introduced in the period 1929 to 1940, managers will always perform to the best of their ability whatever duties the legislature assigns to them. - Yours, etc.,
Peter McLoone, General Secretary, IMPACT, Nerney's Court, Dublin 1.