Sir, - I wonder how many of the Aer Lingus workers who will have no job this Christmas, laughed heartily at Minister O'Rourke's witticisms as she attacked the personalities of the Opposition leaders in the debate (November 6th), on her incompetence. I wonder how many car drivers, stuck in traffic gridlock, had a good chuckle at Minister O'Rourke's denigration of those who dared suggest that she was not up to the job.
Again the standard of Irish politics has been demonstrated as being abysmal, when informed debate is turned into an entertainment, when rebuttal of criticism is turned into sarcasm and when the genuine fears and concerns of our citizens are dismissed as being beneath contempt.
I await the election with interest. - Yours, etc.,
Barry MacNeaney, Rathmichael, Co. Dublin.