Madam, - Congratulations on your editorial on "Garda Accountability" (June 25th). Your conclusion that "There is a serious problem within the Garda Síochána. Confidence in the police is one of the key barometers of a democratic society" is entirely correct.
However, the issue is wider that this.
We have seen on far too many occasions recently that there is also absolutely no political accountability either, which is the worst deficiency of all.
It emerged last week that the Minister for Justice has told the parents of the 14-year-old boy who died in Garda custody that "he had no function in the matter" (June 25th).
It is absolutely startling to realise that we live in a country where a child could die in disputed circumstances in Garda custody tonight and the Government could claim it had no function in the matter.
Unfortunately, this attitude is the prevalent one amongst Government ministers.
After all the former minister for health cost us all hundreds of millions by doing nothing about the nursing home fees issues, despite it being included in an Ombudsman's report and his own Health Strategy.
I do not accept the lame excuse that he did not know about it (his absence from part of one meeting about it reminds me of the old excuse "I wasn't in school the day we did that"!).
But even if it was true, surely he was responsible for his Department?
If any of the rest of us had been in charge of something which went so disastrously wrong, we would have to take responsibility, whether we were informed of the details or whether it started prior to our appointment.
But then most of us would feel the only honourable course would be resign.
If fact, I believe if a minister resigned because he accepted responsibility for something in his Department that was not directly his fault, his reputation and career prospects would be enhanced.
Unfortunately this concept is totally alien to our current crop of politicians, who appear to think ministerial office is a perk for them, rather than being for public service.
On an even wider scale, all of this is a symptom of the lack of morality in public life, following the decline in religious belief. Normally one would look to our political leaders to provide us with such a moral code (for public not private matters).
Unfortunately, what they have given us is a culture that one can get away with almost anything. Of course ultimate responsibility rests with the electorate, but recent election history is not encouraging in this regard. - Yours, etc,
LIAM ROCHE, Castleknock, Dublin 15.