MICHAEL McGUIRE,
Sir, - Dr James McDaid has just released a glossy little magazine of election literature. On page 2 is this question in big bold writing: "DOES HAVING A MINISTER IN THE COUNTY HELP DONEGAL?"
On page 4 Dr McDaid proudly proclaims that "a phenomenal 90 per cent of last year's total sports grants for Donegal as a whole" went to his own constituency. This, of course, means the rest of the county got 10 per cent.
If the Minister for Sports, Tourism and Recreation was a Laois man or a Carlow man or a Clare man, maybe the grants to Donegal would have been distributed more evenly.
Does having a Minister in the county help Donegal? North-East Donegal: Yes. South-West Donegal: Absolutely not, it is a hindrance.
Fianna Fáil paid specific attention to the North-East constituency in the hope that Dr McDaid would romp home and carry Cecilia Keaveney TD with him. Unfortunately the voters of South West Donegal will not have the opportunity of "not" voting for Dr McDaid. But they could send a message to Fianna Fáil by the way they vote in their own constituency.
I am not a member of any political party. - Yours, etc.,
MICHAEL McGUIRE,
Burnfoot,
Co Donegal.