Sir, - With some intrigue and surprise I read the many contributions from readers who see the Millennium Monument as a waste of taxpayers' money which could better be spent tackling the problem of homelessness in the capital. I disagree with this argument. The "city spike" is architecturally and spiritually a fine piece of art. It will be comforting to see a light shine above the streets as a constant reminder of a higher and radiant presence.
The argument that this money should be spent on the homeless very much belongs to the last century. At £3 million, this sum would do very little for the homeless problem. At current housing prices in Dublin it would purchase houses for not more than 30 families. Unfortunately our civic attitude to homelessness is that it can only be solved by financial transfers by central government to voluntary agencies. It is not and never will be so simple. A critical look needs to be taken at the immorality of allowing speculators to hold vacant properties while market values rocket. Also, developers could be regulated to provide a percentage of new buildings at a social rent for the first 10 years. The solutions are many but the civic will is weak.
When looked at in simple terms the erection of the Millennium Monument says a lot about the way we Dubliners interact with authority in the running of our city. Faceless people have promoted the project; it will be expedited with skill and professional precision; and as usual our publicly elected representatives will simply put a rubber stamp on it - consultation with the public is left to election time. And strange how such controversial decisions are never taken within months of an election!
Faceless too are the homeless. And their position is "rubber stamped" by public representatives who refrain from giving the problem the same urgency, skill, and priority as putting up a monument. However, it goes without saying that blaming local or national government is not an appropriate or progressive line of thinking. Every morning thousands of us skip briskly on our merry way to warm offices and ignore, or simply refuse to see, the begging paper cups extended from the freezing hands of homeless wretches. They are faceless, invisible and alone.
A belief that the Government will look after them serves only to absolve each one of us from a direct and yet minute responsibility. A few pence and a couple of warm human words will contribute more in the long run to bringing about the shared civic responsibility worthy of such a spiritual presence as the Millennium Monument. - Yours, etc., Ciaran Walsh,
Kincora Drive, Clontarf, Dublin 3.