Controversy over PAC chairman

Sir, – One does not need to be a signed-up conspiracy theorist to wonder about the steady stream of stories about Public Accounts Committee chairman John McGuinness that have appeared in the media in recent weeks.

This has all the hallmarks of a well-orchestrated attempt by inconvenienced vested interests to rid themselves of this turbulent priest – to borrow Eliot’s words. Fired up by the joy of the witch hunt, certain media pundits are all too happy to help.

It seems that for some people, even raising the question of whether the State should pay for spouses to accompany ministers on government trips is a hanging offence.

Hopefully Micheál Martin will have the courage to face down the self righteous outrage of some commentators and politicians on this matter. – Yours, etc,

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FRANK E BANNISTER,

Morehampton Terrace,

Dublin 4.