Madam, - I am always amazed at the way opinion polls are covered in this country. Why is it that Independent TDs are referred to as "others" by most commentators? Why are they at the bottom of the list on 8 per cent while other parties on 3 per cent or 4 per cent are placed higher up?
So respect for our democratic mandate does not seem to figure in so-called political analysis.
It is time commentators and the media in general grew up and accept that Independents are now part of the political landscape. We are not looking for anything special. We just want equality, fair play and balanced coverage and this is not happening at the moment. Luckily for us though, the public see through this blatant discrimination. - Yours, etc.,
FINIAN McGRATH, TD, Independent, Dublin North Central, Dáil Éireann, Dublin 2.