Sir, - How nice to see Jim Ruane, head of the Dublin Chamber of Commerce (commercial supplement, September 23rd), lamenting the atrocious traffic situation in Dublin, complaining about how the planning process can hold up vital works for months or even years, and hoping for a planning process which is faster and more responsive to the city's needs. Could this be the same Chamber of Commerce which campaigned tooth and nail against the adoption of the independent report recommending an on-street Luas?
A vital, ready-to-go project was sent back to the pie-in the-sky phase of "Yes, Minister" never-never land. This, despite the statement on page 3 of the same supplement from Alfie Kane, chairman of Dublin Chamber of Commerce transport committee, that there "is no fundamental difference between ourselves and the DTI". It is obvious that Dublin Chamber of Commerce realises it has an "image problem" on the transport issue. It will not solve this by producing endless maps of the city criss-crossed with hypothetical rail-lines, which are being used as a smokescreen to justify blocking the only realistic attempt to give Dublin the mass transit system which the city is crying out for.
We could have had 22 kilometres of LUAS by 2002. Instead we have promises, excuses and traffic jams - until at least 2005. And for this, Dublin Chamber of Commerce, Mary O'Rourke (Minister for traffic jams), and all the other faces of the car lobby, we thank you not. - Yours, etc., David Brady,
New Ireland Road, Rialto, Dublin 8.