Madam, - Another good week for the Oireachtas (on holidays, of course).
A sitting TD in jail for contempt of court, a sitting TD convicted of tax offences, a sitting TD involved in a drink driving offence, an ex-TD facing possible perjury charges. It really strengthens one's respect for our parliamentarians: aren't they just worth the salary increases and benchmarking! One has to worry if there will be enough left to fill the benches by the end of the year.
Maybe it's time to add a prison wing to Leinster House to make sure that we can make up the numbers for the vote! - Yours, etc.,
MICHAEL JEFFERS, Naas, Co Kildare
... ...
Madam, - The events of recent days surrounding the conduct of G.V. Wright and Michael Collins are newsworthy only because the protagonists are labelled "public representatives".
The two Fianna Fáil TDs were elected to represent geographical constituencies but the sad reality is that they reflect a broader constituency of Irish people who believe it acceptable to drink and drive and evade the payment of taxes.
The soul searching that should take place in response to these news events will undoubtedly be confined to the figureheads of these popular movements; the body politic will, unashamedly, continue behaviour as usual. - Yours, etc.,
DAVID JOHNSON, Stephens Lane, Dublin 2
.. ...
Madam, - What does the Fianna Fáil party consider to be a "resigning matter"? - Yours, etc.,
SARAH CUNNINGHAM, Mespil Estate, Dublin 4