Sir, – I am pleased to see the Dáil devoting time to the important issue of sartorial standards in public life. I have been unable to ascertain the penalties for transgression but suggest the following. First offence: two hours in the stocks. Second offence: 10 lashes. Third and subsequent offences: a fine of one month’s income or 10 shillings, whichever is the greater. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – Given the cavalier “clarification” by An Taoiseach of one of his election promises, might I suggest “business casual” as the dress code for the Dáil? – Yours, etc,
Sir, – Deputy Mick Wallace is democratically elected, as is Richard Boyd Barrett. I wonder whether their voters wear suits to work? I didn’t think so. Can we have our voice please? – Yours, etc,
Sir, – People’s dress communicates their individual identities, values and – in Ireland – increasing diversities.
If this code means to force suits upon those who do not wear them (mainly leftwingers), that will be to interfere with that communication, and is an undemocratic, dictatorial attempt to domineer them into (mainly centrist/rightwing) uniformity and values. The lounge-suit traditionally and arguably currently represents the values of uniformity, power, hierarchy, status, respectability, “establishment”, authority, and even for some, armourplating with which to fight the world! None of these concepts are high in the average leftwinger’s scale of values.
Perhaps this patriarchal domineering comes from an idea that casual clothes mean lazy, disrespectful and incompetent attitudes. My TD works extremely hard, is most courteous, and is extremely competent at representing a by-now large part of the electorate – and he does not wear a suit.
Being a leftwing TD in Ireland is not about the clothes he wears: it is about representing effectively and with integrity those who might have only a small voice, or no voice at all. As long as such a TD looks clean and reasonably tidy, let us continue to allow him wear whatever he likes, and let us be grateful that he is there at all! – Yours, etc,
Sir, – A dress code for the Dáil? Perhaps the “haircuts” being imposed on the rest of us, might be inflicted on some members also? – Yours, etc,