Counting the cost of running the Áras

Sir, – Isn’t it marvellous? The Public Accounts Committee wants to look into the cost of running Áras an Uachtaráin in detail but is concerned that it might be seen as interfering in the election process so close to the next presidential election.

We are entitled to have details of how public money is being spent, so why can’t we read the details in your newspaper? Because this information is specifically excluded from the Freedom of Information Act!

So surely what the members of the Public Accounts Committee, which include deputies from Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Labour, Sinn Féin, the Social Democrats and one Independent, should do is propose a cross party amendment to remove the exclusion of this information from FOI. – Yours, etc,

BRENDAN CASSERLY,

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Bishopstown,

Cork.