Sir, - In the recently published National Cultural Institutions Bill, sponsored, I assume, by the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaelteacht, there is a proposal to dissolve the Genealogical Office. As if that were not bad enough, the same Bill contains a second proposal that the Office be replaced by a board, in reality a Ministerial quango, since all its members will be appointees of the Minister.
The salaries, expenses and other perks of a dozen or so board members will be a charge on the taxpayers, although nowhere in the Bill is any attempt made to quantify the amounts involved. With so many existing demands on the public purse I, as a taxpayer, would be against giving the Minister a blank cheque, even for matters of high culture. - Yours, etc.,
Oakley Park,
Blackrock,
Co Dublin.