Madam, - I was interested to read in your edition of October 23rd that politicians frequently write to the Department of Justice on behalf of people before the courts, while being well aware that such submissions are disregarded.
Years ago when I worked for a large multinational in the West of Ireland I saw a similar game being played. Whenever a promotion was being competed for, the personnel department would receive letters from politicians supporting one or more applicants. Occasionally the same politician would support two different candidates for the same post.
The politician would be sent a standard reply of the type "Thank you for your letter on behalf of A.B., which is receiving our attention". This would be shown to the appropriate person at the next "clinic".
The politicians writing those letters were perfectly well aware that they would not be taken into consideration at all. Indeed they would even work against the candidate, as any person foolish enough to believe that the local TD had any influence over the internal workings of the company might well be eliminated as unsuited to a position of responsibility.
One personnel manager became fed up with the whole charade and instead of sending individual replies he would send each TD a monthly summary: "Thank you for your letters on behalf of A.B., C.D., E.F. and G.H., which are receiving our attention". There were some furious phone calls to area managers and the like as a result, but the policy was maintained and An Post was the only eventual loser. - Yours, etc.,
PÓL Ó CROIDHEÁIN, Boithrín Fada, Gailliam.