No conflicts of interest in local politics

Dear Sir - Our country is virtually bankrupt by Fianna Fail"s bad governance and looking after party friends including bankers. Minister Lenihan is handing out IOUs to get money to run the country and our hospitals - what an example of pure failure. The Green Party has announced their wish to end political donations. Hopefully this will also mean an end to fundraising activities like tents at Galway races and such like but I doubt it because FF or the other political parties in time will find their way around the legislation. The Government should also change criteria of persons standing for election. Because of the need for full transparency and removal of any possible conflict of interest, auctioneers, their agents or solicitors should cease being councillors. Neither should employees of developers (and or speculators in land) be allowed to stand for the same reason or if elected should resign one or the other. There is a need to ban former council employees taking up consultancy work for developers or land speculators for say a period of six years after they retire. There have been a number of examples in Ireland of former local authority staff becoming consultants to developers within a short period of retiring. There is a need to clean up local politics to help create trust amongst the public because with informed knowledge of future developments, speculators can make millions. I hope Green Minister John Gormley carries out a reform of local government without delay, however, in light of his failure to stop or reverse Fianna Fail Government"s scandalous decisions such as the M3 motorway or the hotel beside Trim Castle - A National Monument (supposedly) in State Care, I doubt it; however let"s see will Minister Gormley at long last 'show his bottle"! Cllr Phil Cantwell, Independent Councillor, Trim