DAVID GARRAHY,
Sir, - It was sad to read that the Taoiseach wishes to reduce the time he has to spend answering questions in the Dáil after becoming "irritated" by Opposition leaders and their questions (The Irish Times, June 4th).
At the very least this shows scant disregard for the workings of parliamentary democracy. This point may seem pedantic and irrelevant when the Dáil chamber is increasingly ignored by the media. However, this is what parliamentary democracy is fundamentally based upon - the accountability of a government and its leader to the parliament.
Unfortunately our Taoiseach does not seem to like this accountability and would prefer highly controlled press briefings or polished press releases to defend his Government's policies.
One of Mr Ahern's defences is a comparison of the time he must spend in the Dáil with the time Tony Blair must spend in the Commons. To paraphrase the former US vice-presidential candidate, Senator Lloyd Bentsen: Mr Ahern, you are no Tony Blair. - Yours, etc.,
DAVID GARRAHY,
Doolin,
Co Clare.