Madam, - I think Ben Hemmens (April 25th) is mistaken when he asserts, in reply to my letter of April 23rd, that Dublin has become an irreparable planning disaster and the Government would be better off investing the State's capital budget in smaller regional centres. Indeed, the success of the Luas underlines the transformation that world-class infrastructure investments can make to our capital city.
However, the main point I was making is that we must not make the mistake of framing the national debate about the State's capital investment strategy in the very terms in which he presents it - as a choice between Dublin and the regions - because such an approach could spell economic disaster.
As president of a representative body whose members serve in a voluntary capacity, I also take issue with the suggestion that we are not concerned about the environment of the community in which we live and work. Indeed, over many years we have been involved in lobbying and making submissions to seek good planning to obtain the best quality of life for everyone.
Today that is more important than ever. Dublin must be as competitive as possible or Ireland will suffer. The city is no longer in competition with any other region on this island, as globalisation has transformed the international competition for foreign direct investment into a battle between city regions of more than a million people. At the same time, the only way we will achieve the quality of life Irish people rightly demand, and enhance Dublin's attractiveness as a location for international investments is by investing in world class infrastructure for the capital. - Yours, etc,
TONY BOYLE, President, North Dublin Chamber of Commerce, Glasnevin, Dublin 9.