Madam, - A number of your readers have written off Gay Byrne as the chairman of the new
Road Safety Authority before he has had a chance to prove himself, citing his lack of suitable qualifications. However, his high public profile, his media savvy and contacts, and his self-evident
impatience at the slow progress on road safety may prove to be more useful qualifications in the long run.
He is unlikely to go quietly or unnoticed if he becomes frustrated in the job, and this threat alone should entice a suitable response from the political establishment if resources become an issue.
Whether or not he is successful in his new role only time will tell, but he made a good start by publicly and plainly putting it up to the Minister for Transport at Monday's press conference. -
Yours, etc, JOE MacENRI, Lucan, Co Dublin.
Madam, — So Gay Byrne does not want any experts on the board of the new Road Safety Authority (The Irish Times, March 29th).
How can a board made up of amateurs advise the Government and local authorities on road safety issues?
As for his snide comment that "experts generally come to paddle their own canoe", he insults those who are currently working to improve the situation by conducting much needed research.—Yours, etc, ROBERT MOORE, Bayside Square East, Sutton, Dublin 13.
Madam, - We have seen a leading PR consultant appointed to head the national broadcaster, and a leading national broadcaster appointed to head a national safety organisation.
Where next? My money is on Eddie Shaw to become a PR consultant.
- Is mise, ED O'NEILL, Managing Director, Ideas in Motion, Howth Road, Dublin 3.
Madam, - Tim O'Halloran (March 29th) suspects "that the number of L-drivers has no bearing at all on road deaths". He suggests the "boring task of studying the statistics should precede the press conference setting out priorities". Obviously Gay Byrne has reviewed these statistics, which state that over 400,000 people who are not qualified to drive are doing so (mostly unsupervised).
Personally, I can't think of a better starting point! - Yours, etc, DAVID KILLEN, Auburn, Clontarf, Dublin 3.
Madam, - The tone of your readers' letters in Wednesday's edition regarding Gay Byrne's appointment as chairman of the Road Safety Authority seems somewhat negative and prejudgmental.
Let us wish Mr Byrne well in his most challenging role to date and pray that he will become a modern colossus of roads. - Yours, etc, TONY WALLACE, Enfield, Co Meath.