Sir, – I note with some amusement the widely divergent views expressed in recent letters on the performance of Leo Varadkar as Taoiseach. I hope we can, at least, all agree that Leo has outperformed the British prime ministers during that period.
While not the most demanding of benchmarks, we should nevertheless be grateful for small mercies. – Yours, etc,
WILLIE O’GORMAN,
Castleknock,
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Dublin 15.
Sir, – Kathy Sheridan tells us that Holly Cairns, leader of the Social Democrats, said she “wouldn’t have run for election had she known how much abuse went with the job” (“Burnout is a sure sign of increasing brutal nature of our politics”, Opinion & Analysis, March 27th). It’s a pity then that Ms Cairns could not have led by example by extending some courtesy in her remarks on the announcement of the Taoiseach’s surprise resignation rather than using language more likely to be found on social media. – Yours, etc,
MARION WALSH,
Dublin 4.
Sir, – Fintan O’Toole cannot be beaten for elegantly expressed, corrosive cynicism (“Harris has risen without trace. His skill is survival”, Opinion & Analysis, March 26th). Along the way, he casually denigrates three previous health ministers – Brian Cowen, Leo Varadkar and Micheál Martin. He criticises the fact that Sláintecare was designed by an Oireachtas Committee rather than by a Minister: many considered it a significant achievement that a plan for the future of healthcare could be constructed by cross-party cooperation rather than by Government fiat. Personally, I regard Sláintecare as a utopian project and am not at all surprised that two eminent people appointed to drive it were overwhelmed by the task.
Fintan went on to say of political careers: “It’s not survival of the fittest. It’s survival of the smoothest. Building a media profile and performing well in interviews are the tests you must pass.”
Had he taken this to heart on the one occasion when he reportedly contemplated putting himself on the political hazard, he might by now have had a ministerial career to look back on or, perhaps, for some commentator to sneer at. – Yours, etc,
ALAN DUKES,
Kildare.
Sir, – I don’t suppose there would be any chance of allowing Simon Harris, when he becomes taoiseach, to have a reasonable period to settle in without the usual criticism of politicians? Such a time would give everyone space to reflect on his programme and any analysis or criticism of this would be far more balanced. – Yours, etc,
MARGARET BUTLER,
Booterstown,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – A letter writer (March 26th) refers to Simon Harris “winning the leadership race”.
Was there a race? Did I miss something? – Yours, etc,
RICHARD ALLEN,
Cummeen,
Sligo.
Sir, – In some ways you must admire Sinn Féin.
They saw the results of the referendums and realised that people are sick of the time and energy that are spent on trendy and woke issues that matter to the political elite more than to the man and woman in the street.
Virtually instantaneously they urged the dropping of the “hate speech” legislation that their TDs voted for last year.
Meanwhile Leo Varadkar is busy telling people it is still a priority and, just as unsuccessfully as with the referendums, talking about “clarifying issues”.
Hopefully Simon Harris is reading the room and is listening to the suddenly not so silent majority. – Yours, etc,
STEPHEN GLEESON,
Killiney,
Co Dublin.