Sir, – A somewhat unorthodox attempt to capture the floating vote (Front Page photograph, Dylan Vaughan, January 1st). Perhaps the church gate would be slightly drier. – Yours, etc,
ULTAN Ó BROIN,
Dublin 8.
Sir, – What could have caused the sinking of the Tánaiste’s vessel? Only something that could survive unseen underwater for a considerable amount of time. Own up, Mr Gilmore. – Yours, etc,
EUGENE TANNAM,
Firhouse,
Dublin 24.
Sir, – I wrote to you recently about my frustration at being advised by all and sundry not to make unnecessary journeys at this time of year.
Does a ministerial boat trip count as an unnecessary journey? – Yours, etc,
SEAN O’SULLIVAN,
Crossing,
Co Wexford.
Sir, – I note that Joan Burton and her colleague were not wearing life-jackets as they fell out of their canoe. – Yours, etc,
GARRY BURY,
Dalkey,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – Our hearts must surely go out to the Tánaiste. A fully clothed outdoor bath and cameras present to record it. Will the Opposition hang her out to dry? – Yours, etc,
NIALL GINTY,
Killester,
Dublin 5.
Sir, – Joan of barque! – Yours, etc,
OLIVER McGRANE,
Rathfarnham,
Dublin 16.
Sir, – A watershed moment? – Yours, etc,
PAUL DELANEY,
Dalkey,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – A politician falls out of a boat. The democratic discourse on the internet goes viral. The democratic discourse on the mainstream media goes gleeful and wants to make flooding an election issue.
The equivalent democratic discourse during the years of the boom was not alone distinctly non-viral but it gave gleeful support to the decisions that bankrupted the country and failed to make them an election issue. – Yours, etc,
A LEAVY,
Sutton,
Dublin 13.
Sir, – To paraphrase Oscar Wilde, one must have a heart of stone to look at the capsizing of Joan Burton without laughing. – Yours, etc,
KEVIN O’SULLIVAN,
Letterkenny,
Co Donegal.
Sir, – Labour has been criticised for toeing the line too much in the Fine Gael-led government, but look what happens when you rock the boat. – Yours, etc,
COLIN WALSH,
Templeogue,
Dublin 6W.