Madam, - According to the new Wicklow County Council Settlement Strategy, citizens of this State will be forbidden from purchasing new homes in certain parts of Wicklow if they are from outside the county (The Irish Times, July 18th). Perhaps because of the heat I think I missed the people of Wicklow declaring the county an independent state.
I was under the impression that all citizens of the State were equal under the Constitution. I was also mistakenly under the impression that the free movement of people was a defining requirement of our membership of the European Union.
However, following my morning internet search to try and find a modestly priced apartment in Dublin, I asked myself if what was good for the people of Wicklow would not be good for the people of Dublin. A restriction on who could purchase property in Dublin would significantly reduce demand and, assuming that the laws of economics hold true, prices would also decline.
I am curious to know whether Dublin city and county councils ever considered applying similar regulations to allow their constituents the opportunity to live in the communities of their childhood.
Might the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Dick Roche, have a problem with restrictions that conflict with the economic principles of his government being applied in the nation's capital? Or is the opportunity to run for office as president of the Independent State of Wicklow more to the forefront of his thinking? - Yours, etc,
GARRETT MURRAY,
Templeville Drive,
Dublin 6W.