Madam, – It is nothing less than national betrayal by Irish politicians when they leave their country for the national holiday. No matter if they pay their own fare – this doesn’t let them off the hook.
They are obliged to the Irish voters who elect them to be in Ireland on the national holiday, to review the parades when the nation is on the march. Our leaders forget where their bread is buttered.
How many US politicians leave America on the Fourth of July or French politicians leave France on Bastille Day and expect to be re-elected when they come home?
There is only one junket I would agree to and that is for our Minister for Health to go to Cuba and find out how the Cuban government can provide a top-class health service for its citizens even though Cuba faces an American blockade. Even America has a bad health service, in spite of their wealth. Mary Harney should forget about Boston and look to Havana.
For many years now I have walked in St Patrick’s Day parades in Sligo protesting against politicians going on junkets and I have protested for the same reasons for the same length of time outside of Dáil Éireann. Sadly, for reasons of health, I will not be able to walk in this St Patrick’s Day parade in Sligo, nor protest outside Dáil Éireann this year. – Yours, etc,