Madam, – Enda Kenny has defended himself against the claim that he had failed to involve George Lee in policy formulation, stating he had appointed him to chair the Fine Gael economic affairs committee last July. He went on to lament the fact that no meeting of the committee had ever taken place.
This begs the question why Deputy Kenny did not at some point ask Mr Lee for on update on how the committee was progressing. If Fine Gael is to be regarded as a government-in-waiting, surely the economic affairs committee would be producing reports on a regular basis?
The episode gives us an interesting insight into Deputy Kenny’s leadership style and what we could expect from him as taoiseach. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Senator Terry Leyden has called on the Minister for Communications “to draw up protocols to prevent Joe Duffy, Marian Finucane, Charlie Bird or Miriam O’Callaghan from running for the Dáil on the basis of their high profiles on television” (Seanad report, February 10th). This is an extraordinary demand. One wonders on what basis legislation might be drafted debarring named individuals from exercising their Constitutional right to seek election. It adds a whole new meaning to the “list system”.
Senator Leyden seems to have forgotten the candidacy of distinguished broadcaster Liam Ó Murchú who stood for Fianna Fáil in Cork North Central in 1982.
Liam Ó Murchú was not only a high profile presenter but a senior executive within RTÉ.
In the aftermath of George Lee’s resignation there has been considerable focus on the fact that Mr Lee was on unpaid leave of absence from RTÉ. Predictably this has been used as a stick to beat RTÉ. There is a wider issue here. If our institutions are to be truly representative we need to encourage appropriate leave arrangements so participation in the democratic process is not confined to those with personal wealth or in the employment of the State or State agencies. If protocols are needed it is in this respect – not just in relation to elected office but to involvement by employees in civic society, including the trade union movement.
Madam, – When George Lee’s grandchildren ask him what did he do in the Great Recession of 2009, he will be able to reply “I got elected to the Dáil, I then resigned and I left the taxpayer with a bill of €300,000 for the re-run of Dublin South byelection”. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – When one compares the attitudes and commitment of Brian Lenihan and George Lee to public service, there clearly is no contest. One shows persistence, the other petulance. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – George Lee’s mistake was to see Irish political parties as organisations of citizens concerned to develop policy which addresses national problems. Rather, they are coalitions of individual politicians, a few of whom are tasked to improvise policy in service of winning elections. An open process of policy discussion and development would seriously interfere with this imperative.
I sympathise with Mr Lee. I made the same mistake about the Green Party. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – George Lee’s stated objective for entering politics was to take a purposeful role in fixing our broken economy. He has intellect, knowledge, and a noble and rare aspiration to use his talents for the good of his country. That he, so soon, feels brow-beaten to the point of resignation, is a dire indictment of our dispiriting, under-performing political system.
Mr Lee’s resignation is to be admired and respected, for it gives the lie to our political posturers.
The fixers of our broken economy are, clearly, broken themselves; broken even beyond Mr Lee’s abilities to lend meaningful assistance. I fear we are in more trouble than you would believe. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – As he is currently unemployed, someone should commission George Lee to write an account of the economic collapse. As a working title, can I suggest On the Banks, by our own lovely Lee, – Yours, etc,
Madam, – The George Lee resignation is just one small facet of the overwhelming argument that we need a complete revamp of our political system. In particular, a reduction in the size of the Dáil by at least 50 per cent, and the banishment of “parish pump” ethos from the said assembly.
Mr Lee thought he could serve the country, but unfortunately that is not how things work. Nearly every move an Irish politician makes, government and opposition, is hidebound by petty, local, short-term considerations. If Mr Lee would start a campaign to promote a new way, then I believe many hundreds of thousands would support him. It’s time for us to have a tea party! – Yours, etc,