Madam, - For some time now I have wondered if the independent TD Jackie Healy-Rae had a bottom line beneath which he would not sink, if there were certain principles in defence of which he would not hesitate to oppose the Government.
Clearly this bottom line did not include the dubious deal between the State and religious orders regarding compensation for child abuse victims, the savage cuts in the Community Employment Scheme which hits the most vulnerable in our society, the continuing decline in our health services, with bed closures taking place daily, or State connivance with local authorities to extract double payment from householders for refuse collections.
On none of these issues did Mr Healy-Rae raise an objection in Dáil Éireann, but he has certainly dug his heels in on the issue of smoking in his family's bar in Kerry. Mr Healy-Rae has made it clear that he will "go to jail rather than enforce the proposed smoking ban" (The Irish Times, October 4th).
Now we know the nature of Mr Healy-Rae's distinctive political philosophy: parish pump politics. - Yours, etc.,
TOM COOPER, Delaford Lawn, Knocklyon, Dublin 16.
Madam, - Mr Micheál Martin says there can be no compromise on health issues. So, treating patients in the car park of the Mater Hospital or having them wait on trolleys for days are not compromises! Get real, Mr Martin. Living in a democratic society is always about compromises. - Yours, etc.,
DESMOND McGRANE, Kilteragh Drive, Foxrock, Dublin 18.
Madam, - There is no need for Jackie Healy-Rae (ever a man for the grand gesture) to go to jail. If he insists on breaking the law, let Mr McDowell deprive him of his licence.
No doubt it will be bought. - Yours, etc.,
FINBAR BOYLE, Crampton Court, Dame Street, Dublin 2.
Madam, - So Jackie Healy-Rae says he is prepared to go to prison rather than implement the anti-smoking ban in his pub in Kerry.
In case your readers get carried away, might I say that we had a much more courageous offer here in Dublin North-Central. One TD said the Dublin Port Tunnel would be built over his dead body.
The tunnel is being built, his party is in power and, needless to say, he didn't keep his promise. - Yours, etc.,
KATHRYN MULREADY, Calderwood Road, Drumcondra, Dublin 9.
Madam, - Mr Micheál Martin's response to the Kerry publicans' rejection of his attempt to restrict individual liberty was that of a 1950s schoolmaster: for your insubordination I am threatening you not with the cane, but with the right of bar workers to sue you.
This is disingenuous since Mr Martin is well aware that the majority of rural pubs employ no workers, but are are run by their owners. If these publicans wish to provide a place for their customers to smoke, the only risk is to themselves. Surely this should be a matter of individual freedom for them.
Mr Martin's ban on smoking in the workplace has no relevance to such establishments yet he insists on their inclusion in his legislation. Does this tell us that his real agenda is that teacher knows best? Well, I have news for him. Teachers in the 21st century are well down the pecking order of educated professionals in this country. I know because I am one. - Yours, etc.,
MARIA FLANAGAN, Assaroe Heights, Ballyshannon, Co Donegal.
Madam, - The threat by Kerry publicans to ignore the ban on smoking comes as no surprise. The arrogance of this group is a disgrace. Only last year another group of publicans - in Mayo - decided to disregard the law and impose a unilateral ban on serving Travellers in their pubs. The ban was overturned only under threat of legal action.
One can only hope that the full rigour of the law will be applied in Kerry when the ban is introduced. - Yours, etc.,
BRENDAN McMAHON, Elmwood, Naas, Co Kildare.