Madam, - On Thursday night I tuned into RTÉ to see the Dáil debate regarding Anglo Irish Bank and our country's future. I assumed this would be treated seriously by our elected representatives. Sadly I watched as some seven or so of our countrymen participated. If I'd been in a pub there would have been more involvement. Like a pub, the Dáil has plenty of comfortable chairs, but as pub owners the length and breadth of the country know, it's impossible to get the "bums on the seats". Where were these "bums" in the Dáil on Thursday?
The nation is facing its most daunting circumstances ever, but there appeared to be not one single "ordinary" TD to pose a question nor indeed to show any interest in the problems facing us. Maybe they had something more important to do? Can they enlighten me? I was made redundant in April 2010 after 21 years. If I had a challenging job to attend to today I would gladly go and participate, and be proud to do so.
As Ciarán Fitgerald famously roared to his team-mates "Where's you're f***ing pride?". Maybe a political leader or two might be able to instill this sense of self into some of our elected representatives and this week, maybe, they might just turn up to the jobs they're lucky to have?
- Yours, etc,
PAUL DILLON, Forest View, Wheaton Hall, Drogheda, Co Louth.
Madam, - How wise was the American patriot Thomas Jefferson when he said, "I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies"! What a pity such wisdom does not appear to exist in our political institutions today.
- Yours, etc,
JOHN STAFFORD, Dargle Wood, Knocklyon, Dublin 16.
Madam, - If indeed the entire cost of the bank bailout is €50 billion, as indicated on "Black Thursday", the annual budget deficit of €20 billion and rising implies that the State will incur the equivalent of a full banking-system bailout every two and a half years. May I suggest that it is the latter which is of greater concern to our creditors? The Opposition has failed to articulate any credible policies to tackle this central problem. I wish to see the Government removed for its catastrophic mismanagement of the economy, yet Opposition parties have provided me with no confidence that they provide a superior alternative. What is a voter to do?
- Yours, etc,
ROWAN SMITH, Castledawson, Maynooth, Kildare.
Madam, - With respect to those who do not know, in Europe a billion equals one thousand million.
We in this country are closing down hospitals, or healthcare facilities, particularly here in the west of Ireland because of a shortfall of maybe a hundred million euro. Our Government has decided to repay one bank's bad debt of approximately 30 thousand million euro, in taxpayers' money.
Surely, these overseas speculators in Anglo Irish Bank, while enjoying the benefits of the Irish Government's recent decisions, would also applaud a reversal of all these recent ill-thought-out decisions, if it meant Ireland had a half decent health service. If not, should we rush to reimburse those who think so little of us, if at all?
We, here in the Sligo area, and I'm sure all the way up and down the west and south west, are appalled at the recent closures, or imminent service curtailments that have been foisted upon us, for want of a fraction of the billions being used to bail out the banks.
We live in hope, perhaps expectation, that someone of ability in Government will see the need to resuscitate and maintain a decent health service which is surely the right of all the people in this country.
- Is mise,
NOEL ARCHBOLD, Castle Burn, Ballymote, Sligo.
Madam, - Four austere budgets and a national funeral.
- Yours, etc,
PAUL DELANEY, Beacon Hill, Dalkey, Co Dublin.