Sir, - The Public Accounts Committee has produced its report, and a smiling Mr Mitchell tells us that there was no political interference in the Dirt scandal and that the Ministers for Finance who presided over the whole sordid affair are largely blameless. Surely the issue is that in failing to "interfere" each of the Ministers for Finance failed in their fundamental responsibility to the people.
Public apathy toward the political system will only increase so long as there is a lack of accountability from our public representatives. Maybe each ballot paper in the next election should have a space marked "none of the above". The public then could express a real opinion rather than choosing between the immoral, corrupt, inept, ineffective or self-serving. - Yours, etc.,
Peter Smyth, Marley Rise, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16.