Sir - Is it not a form of corruption to use State institutions for personal gain? I ask this in reference to the recent movement of various branches of the civil service to new locations around the country, which by amazing coincidence, just happen to be in the constituencies of the ministers concerned.
We've had Brian Cowen hastily moving the National Disease and Surveillance Centre to Tullamore, just before he left for Foreign Affairs; Michael Smith moving Civil Defence and parts of Army administration to Tipperary, presumably before he's sacked or resigns over his hopeless handling of army cutbacks; and our Justice Minister sees fit to relocate the Civil Legal Aid board to Cahirciveen, of all places.
This use of parts of the civil service as baubles to present to the locals to ensure a good outcome at the next election is an example of shameful political parochialism. Such small minded, short-term thinking is precisely the kind of political practices that have damaged this country in the past. It may only be a few sections of the civil service now but it is a worrying insight into the thinking of key Ministers in a Government soon to be faced with serious questions on the economy and Northern Ireland.
What will happen when the next group of political wide-boys appears in high office? Shall the whole merry-go-round begin again? In the meantime, Stormont had better watch out it is not relocated to Birr! - Yours, etc.,
Dr Barry McCarthy, Kingston, Australia