Accounting to the Oireachtas

Madam, - Seán Ardagh TD is aggrieved that he was not offered a junior ministry.

Madam, - Seán Ardagh TD is aggrieved that he was not offered a junior ministry.

He feels that he merits it because, as chairman of the Joint Oireachtas Committee for Justice, he always went out to bat for the Government.

He adds that Seán Fleming TD is equally deserving - as chair of the finance committee he "always batted for the Government, as well". It's just not cricket!

The task of the Oireachtas is to hold the government to account for its exercise of the executive power of the State.

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It is not a subservient body which rubber-stamps everything put before it.

To ensure that the Oireachtas will be able effectively to challenge the executive's plans and reports, a committee chairman should always be prepared to bat against the government.

At the very least he should be neutral.

It is a shame that outgoing chairmen pride themselves on being partisan.

- Yours, etc,

MICHAEL DRURY,

Avenue Louise,

Brussels.