A chara, – Now that Michael D Higgins is Uachtarán, can we expect a Macnas parade and not a military one in front of the GPO in 2012? – Is mise,
A chara, – Congratulations to Michael D Higgins on winning a tough battle to become the ninth president of Ireland. I am sure that we all hope that he brings a radical and progressive dimension to the office as a counter-balance to the conservative and unchecked capitalist direction of the Government.
It is a great pity that such a large percentage of the electorate voted for “cute hoorism” in the shape of Seán Gallagher. That this embodiment of the old style of Mr-Fix-It politician only fell at the last hurdle is a chilling thought. We should acknowledge Martin McGuinness’s role in exposing Gallagher and sparing us the return of Fianna Fáil by stealth.
Micheál Martin smoothed the way for Seán Gallagher by brushing aside his own party’s Brian Crowley and Labhras O Murchú. He then stayed under the radar for the rest of the contest while his (not so) cunning plan was making pace. He almost got away with it, but for the Frontline debacle. I have a feeling this story will run and run. – Is mise,
A chara, – Now that the dust has settled on the presidential election and the electorate have voted for a “president for all the people” (Front Page, 0ctober 29th) an analysis of the election strategies and efforts of the candidates will commence. At the same time, ordinary people will continue with their daily struggles and endeavours.
The State is in receivership and we are up to our eyes in debt. For the past five weeks we have had seven presidential hopefuls criss-crossing the country in coaches and cars, in tandem with a media-circus and coterie of handlers, selling us their visions for an island of hope and prosperity. The taxpayer will meet the costs of much of this extraordinary campaign.
All the while, one in four primary school children in Co Meath sit in classrooms of over 30 pupils. These statistics are replicated in many counties across the land. The question will now arise as to what “roles and themes” our next president should adopt as he carries out the duties of the “uachtarán”.
He need look no further than to the plight of the three- and four- year-olds in the State who are about to enter an over-crowded and under-funded educational system. How many of these children will slip through the net due to Government policies which continue to encourage democratic individualism? – Is mise,
Sir, – While we celebrate the election of Michael D, let us pause for one moment.
In the numbers section of your Saturday edition you refer to the salary of the president at over €325,000 and mention that he may be asked to “take a voluntary pay cut”.
Are we never ever going to get over our peasant attitude to the State? I voted for Michael D and I expect that he will make a fine president and I voted on allowing the State to manage judges’ salaries. I was not aware that the State had no control over the salary of the president.
At €325,000 the president is overpaid by European standards and it is time for whoever is in charge to address it. If Enda and the boys are not in charge, perhaps they could revert to their own peasant mentality and ask nice Mr Chopra to tell us what we can do.
Maybe some would suggest that this is begrudgery again. Perhaps such doubters might reflect on the cost of job creation. As some have suggested it costs maybe €25,000 to create one solid job for one young person. If the president is overpaid by €100,000 then that’s the cost of four jobs and four young people exported.
Or perhaps it’s more important to just celebrate. – Yours, etc,