Sir, – Leo Varadkar has become Taoiseach twice in a situation where his immediate predecessors, Micheál Martin on this occasion, and previously Enda Kenny, tendered their resignations in order for this to happen.
Mr Martin for his part, becomes the seventh leader of Fianna Fáil to resign the office of taoiseach. The first of these was Éamon de Valera, who became president two days later in 1959. – Yours, etc,
SEAMUS BELLEW,
Dundalk,
Co Louth.
Sir, – Here’s hoping that the rotating Taoiseach keeps the level of spin to a minimum. – Yours, etc,
IVAN RUSK,
Quin,
Co Clare.
Sir, – As we ponder the possible political futures of our island, I want to thank Cauvery Madhavan for her intelligent, insightful article on India, Ireland and the British empire in Saturday’s paper (“Two men of Indian heritage lead their nations, a century after Irish freedom and 70 years since India cast off the Raj”, December 17th). – Yours, etc,
MARIA MAGUIRE,
Colegate,
Norwich, UK.
Sir, – It is somewhat surprising that, in the context of the intense media interest and speculation surrounding the Cabinet reshuffle, the decision to once again consign the Department of Justice to be part of another Minister’s portfolio has provoked little comment. Having said that, your political editor, Pat Leahy, on December 10th last, did forecast that it would probably be a case of “caretaking in the Department of Justice”.
The Minister for Justice holds one of the great offices of State, responsible for national security and law and order, as well as providing legislative oversight for many important areas of activity for the ordinary citizen, including political responsibility for the courts, the prisons and the police force. The Minister also guides a great many pieces of civil and criminal legislation through the Oireachtas.
Indeed, such has been the extent and complexities of these responsibilities, that valid arguments have been regularly put forward for the appointment of two full Cabinet Ministers to carry out these functions, a Minister for Justice and a “Minister for Home Affairs”, in line with the government architecture in many of our European neighbours.
However, it would appear that the Government continues to be of the view that these important and ever increasing ministerial responsibilities can be carried out on a “caretaking” basis for at least a full year.
Accordingly, at a time of global uncertainty and when national crime figures remain a cause for concern, the public could be excused for thinking that the security of the State and public order do not currently attract the level of priority which they deserve within the political system. – Yours, etc,
MARTIN McDONALD,
Terenure,
Dublin 12.
Sir, – At the Fine Gael ardfheis in Athlone on November 19th a great many positive policy motions were passed, though it was surprising that a majority of members did not support the motion from the Dublin Rathdown constituency organisation calling for a new Minister of State for Northern Ireland to be introduced.
The suggestion is not a new one and it was indicated in a Seanad debate in November 1977 by Senator (and future President) Mary Robinson that the then-taoiseach Jack Lynch was at that point actively contemplating introducing such a role. The motion called for such a new minister to report to both the taoiseach and the minister for foreign affairs which would have been in line with a recommendation Mrs Robinson made at the time.
There are currently Minister of State roles covering an Irish population abroad and a specific Irish region (for Diaspora and the Gaeltacht) yet no such dedicated Minister covering the affairs of a very significant population above 600,000 of Irish passport holders on the same island. It was recommended in association with the motion that concentration in the new role would have been given, for example, to focusing upon increased collaboration opportunities (at a difficult juncture due to the background of Brexit) in the realms of third-party education and healthcare between Donegal and Derry, Louth and Armagh/Down and other respective areas.
The UK government has three ministers overseeing Northern Ireland affairs (the Foreign Secretary, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and also Minister of State, Northern Ireland).
Consideration of the merits of the possible introduction of an extra ministerial role along with the continued representation on such affairs at Cabinet by the Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs is something that should be revisited. – Yours, etc,
Cllr JOHN KENNEDY,
(Fine Gael),
Dún Laoghaire
Rathdown County
Council Offices,
Dún Laoghaire,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – New Cabinet. Emperor’s new clothes. – Yours, etc,
NATALLIA HUNT,
Kilmacanogue,
Co Wicklow.
Sir, – Politically noteworthy as the transfer of power from Tweedledum to Tweedledee is, what astonished me was the Dáil sitting for nine hours on a Saturday. – Yours, etc,
TOMÁS FINN,
Cappataggle,
Ballinasloe,
Co Galway.