Sir, – Further to Noel Whelan's perceptive commentary ("One key word in Fennelly report spells trouble for Enda Kenny", Opinion & Analysis, September 2nd), I am puzzled as to what was the basis for the Fennelly report's unreserved "acceptance" of the Taoiseach's assurances that he did not put pressure on Martin Callinan to resign.
Would it not have been more appropriate for the report to have simply “ noted” the Taoiseach’s statement and then to have indicated, as must surely be the case in the absence of any corroborative evidence, that it was not possible for the commission to arrive at an independent judgment as to the true state of the Taoiseach’s mind?
In light of the rest of the narrative (including the key “ however” sentence cited by Noel Whelan), the reader, if they chose to do so, could then form their own view as to what the Taoiseach may have been thinking at the time. – Yours, etc,
DONAL DONOVAN,
Milltown,
Dublin 14.
Sir, – In early 2014, the Fianna Fáil leadership formed the view that the then Garda commissioner should not continue in his role.
It would appear that, at least as of March 23rd, 2014, the Fine Gael leadership came to the same conclusion.
While I am aware of the historic animosity between these leaders, is it really necessary to form a commission of investigation every time these two agree? – Yours, etc,
BARRY FLANAGAN,
Ballsbridge,
Dublin 4.