Madam, - The Labour Party's hypocrisy on waste charges seems to know no bounds.
On one hand the party's environmental spokesperson, Eamon Gilmore, is tabling motions in Dáil Éireann calling for the introduction of a national waiver scheme for vulnerable members of society - pensioners and those on social welfare. On the other hand, his party colleagues around the country are ruthlessly voting to scrap waivers and raise charges.
Labour and Fine Gael councillors in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown voted recently to increase waste charges by up to 66 per cent, while simultaneously scrapping the full waiver system that had been in place for pensioners and those on social welfare. The result is that Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown has the highest waste charges in Dublin, with pensioners and those on social welfare being hit hardest.
All this comes from the same people who, prior to last year's local elections, opposed waste charges at every turn. The Labour Party, and in particular Mr Gilmore, have no credibility on this issue. If they support a waiver for pensioners and those on social welfare they should put up and vote accordingly when it counts - or shut up. - Yours, etc.,
LUKE MARTIN, Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin.