A chara, – I was saddened to read Ben Mullen’s letter (October 16th). It encapsulates perfectly and poignantly the sad aftermath of all that has happened in this country. The apathy felt by your correspondent is readily identifiable to a large proportion of the population, otherwise there would have been rioting in the streets.
The letter also links in perfectly with the article written by Garret FitzGerald (Opinion, October 16th), which explains concisely why we have arrived at this level of corruption and croneyism. It was as if Dr FitzGerald had anticipated the arrival of the letter. Dr FitzGerald finishes his article with the hope that there will be a new morality rising out of the ashes of the present crisis. I fervently hope for the sake of Ben Mullen and everyone else, that this is will happen so that he might soon be able to return to the country he so obviously loves. – Is mise,
Madam, – Ben Mullen’s eloquent letter should be required reading for every member of the Dáil and every banker who helped send this fine young man to another country. It is a searing indictment of the incompetence of an inept government and the chicanery of the corrupt banking establishment. I wish him good luck! – Yours, etc,
Madam, – I read with interest Ben Mullen’s missive (October 16th). Now, while I appreciate it’s a tough decision to leave home, Irish people have been doing it for years, boom or no boom. I have been gone since 2003 and missed much of the “good times”.
Living in the UK, I can tell you it's no great shakes here either now that the cream has curdled. However, I must wonder about the periodic letters in The Irish Timesfrom people in their 20s complaining about their plight and how they have to emigrate. Have they never heard of the 1980s? My cup of sympathy does not "runneth over". As to politicians making poor decisions – I don't believe Irish people have any monopoly on dodgy elected officials. How about sparing us the melodrama; let's all get on with working to make it better. – Yours, etc,