A chara, – The stormy weather that we endured over the Christmas period was significant, not only for the damage and disruption that it caused, but also for the manner in which it highlighted the hypocritical and often vicious nature of large sections of the Irish media and Irish public life.
Not so long ago, during the recent dispute over the diminution of their pension rights, ESB engineers were the subject of some nasty headlines and reporting, accusing them of “holding the country to ransom” and labelling them as “greedy” and “grinches” that were out to steal Christmas.
Yet on Christmas Eve, as the majority of the rest of us were relaxing, doing some last-minute shopping, wrapping presents or maybe starting Christmas celebrations, the “grinches” were out all over the country, trying to restore power to thousands of families so that they could enjoy Christmas.
The next time a group of workers has the temerity to stand up for their agreed pension rights and conditions, perhaps our media could retain a little perspective and not cheer-lead a self-serving and puerile attack. – Is mise,
SIMON O’CONNOR,
Lismore Road,
Crumlin,
Dublin 12.