Madam, - Regardless of one's personal political affiliations, it is surely a matter of national shame when a Taoiseach resigns under a cloud of suspicion, particularly as this is not the first such event in modern times.
Activities which are perceived to demonstrate a lack of ethical standards at senior Government level reflect badly on the country as a whole and the political classes in particular.
The anticipated elevation of Brian Cowen to the office of Taoiseach should have provided an opportunity for a fresh start and a commitment to new and higher standards.
However, the speedy readmission of Beverley Flynn to the ranks of Fianna Fáil suggests that, instead, we're merely in for "more of the same". - Yours, etc,
PETER MOLLOY, Haddington Park, Glenageary, Co Dublin.
Madam, - Congratulations to Brian Cowen on coming election as leader of Fianna Fáil and Taoiseach. No doubt the political correspondents will have a formidable list of challenges for him to face. You know the sort of thing: slowing economy, racing inflation, growing unemployment, deteriorating environment.
In truth (in my humble opinion) there's not a whole lot he can do to really affect these issues - though he and his advisers won't tell us that as they tack and jib in the stormy winds of international affairs.
May I present the master mariner with a meaningful challenge he could do something about? I'm in my fifties and have voted in every local and national election since the early 1970s. I have never voted for Fianna Fáil. I've never been a member of a political party, and am not lost in any ideological miasma, but I have always regarded Fianna Fáil as the Mafia party, full of cute hoors, "strokes" and self-interest, the antitheses of honesty and integrity. I am far from being alone in that opinion - and over the years there has been plenty of justification for this particular attitude.
Here's my challenge to Brian Cowen: make Fianna Fáil the kind of party I'd be happy to vote for. Show me, through your leadership and ministerial appointments, the values your administration exhibits, the example you and your colleagues set for the country. Prove that Fianna Fáil puts the long-term interest of this country ahead of cronyism and short-term political gain.
In short, show me vision and honesty in party and Government. Come on, Biffo. Sock it to me. - Yours, etc,
MAURICE O'DONOGHUE, Acorn Road, Dundrum, Dublin 16.
Madam, - The imminent departure of Taoiseach Ahern and his replacement by Tánaiste Cowen should not distract our attention from another significant piece of news: the return to Fianna Fáil of Beverley Flynn.
She was expelled following her failed libel action against RTÉ and others. She claimed damages from RTÉ for saying she had advised or encouraged people to evade tax they owed the State, and denied under oath that she had done so. After a 28-day trial that the Supreme Court later found to have been fair, the jury chose to believe four witnesses, former clients of the bank where Ms Flynn had worked, who swore she had done exactly that.
Their verdict was in effect a finding that she had engaged in tax evasion, tried to extort from the national broadcaster damages she was not entitled to, and committed perjury.
In recent years, Fianna Fáil has had one leader who was obviously and deeply corrupt, and three senior political figures, including another leader, whose conduct while in office has been at best questionable. Its decision to readmit someone with the record of Beverley Flynn is a message to its political partners and to the electorate that the party has not changed. - Yours, etc,
MICHAEL WILLIAMS, Grosvenor Square, Dublin 6.
Madam, - Following Mr Ahern's resignation, it seems we are to have glimpses of those unappealing aspects of his character which he managed to keep hidden, more or less, during his time in office. Ms Gráinne Carruth had a difficult encounter with the Mahon tribunal because her former boss, to whom she is admirably loyal, refused to give truthful answers to legitimate questions. It is that simple, notwithstanding Mr Ahern's crude and stupid comments at UCD.
We deserve to have a Taoiseach whom we can respect. Mr Ahern treated us like gullible gobdaws - clearly, some of us are - and he became an embarrassment, being a little too devious for his own good and perhaps not quite cunning enough. I hope that Mr Cowen will bring to an end within Fianna Fáil, once and for all, the indifference to corruption and the tolerance of standards not just low but non-existent - though the readmission of Beverley Flynn is not encouraging. In that way he can, if he chooses, do the State some genuine service. - Yours, etc,
MAEVE KENNEDY, Rathgar Avenue, Dublin 6.
Madam, - At first I was surprised but happy at the dignified manner in which Mr Ahern announced his resignation as Taoiseach. I naively expected that he might issue a public apology for the ordeal which Gráinne Carruth endured as a result of his own cowardice.
Instead, when he attacked the Mahon tribunal for its treatment of Ms Carruth, I was left with an empty feeling. Has this man no shame? The words "appalling" and "low-life"come to mind. - Yours, etc,
DERMOT FOLEY, Kimmage Road West, Dublin 12.
Madam, - I really enjoyed reading Roddy Doyle's humorous and affectionate piece about our ambushed Taoiseach's defiant last stand (Weekend Review, April 5th). I would like to echo the writer's observation about the Taoiseach's smile: "He smiled - it still worked." The Taoiseach's smile always worked for me. When he smiled it was like the sun came out. With the Taoiseach leaving public office, the sun has dimmed. - Yours, etc,
SHEILA PECK, Heynestown Cross, Dundalk, Co Louth.
Madam, - Senator Eugene Regan of Fine Gael claims that the Mahon tribunal conducted the questioning of Ms Carruth "in a sensitive and entirely appropriate manner" ( The Irish Times, April 4th). In fact, the tribunal transcripts show that there was a deliberate attempt to intimidate.
Ms Carruth was repeatedly accused of "telling untruths" and the words "untrue" or "telling an untruth" appear at least 11 times. All this with talk of a €300,000 fine and/or two years' imprisonment. - Yours, etc,
DAVID SIMMS, Gilford Road, Dublin 4.