Sir, – I really must add my comments regarding the egregious behaviour of those people who insulted our President last week in Finglas.
Michael D Higgins is a delightful man, courteous and cultured, and we should all be proud of him.
Many people in this land are rightfully protesting about the imposition of water charges, but how will they now feel about peacefully protesting on this issue, and thereby being tainted by association?
This was a thoroughly disgraceful performance, and it beggars belief that Paul Murphy TD has defended the perpetrators. – Yours, etc,
AIDAN CLEARY,
Limerick.
Sir, – I hope poetry will help Michael D Higgins to see that the worst are full of passionate intensity. – Yours, etc,
BRIAN AHERN,
Clonsilla,
Dublin 15.
Sir, – Forgive me, but do I not recall our President in a former existence using a certain derogatory term, beginning with the letter “w”, when referring to an American radio host?
I do not recall a series of letters to your newspaper condemning his actions. Perhaps there are those who feel that only a certain class of people has the right to resort to personal abuse. – Yours, etc,
GILES FOX,
Kilmacud,
Co Dublin.
A chara, – The personal abuse levelled at the President and shown on social media was out of order but many people do instinctively understand that increasing inequality in our country is represented by the expansion of flat, regressive taxation and levies.
As in England, water for sale and for profit will represent an acceleration of ongoing inequality. This expanded inequality will be driven by such charges here and the deprivation of our poorest citizens and their children will be the inevitable result.
Much commentary has been made regarding the negative impact of increasing inequality but Government actions pull in the opposite direction and a social force has now developed to attempt to constrain this. – Is mise,
JOHN SULLIVAN,
Rathmines,
Dublin 6.
Sir, – While I abhor and completely reject the demonstration to which President Michael D Higgins and his wife were subjected, I cannot help but note that the incident took place on Thursday last, yet it did not hit the newspapers until Tuesday of this week. The cynic in me suspects that this is not unrelated to the water protest scheduled to take place on Saturday. – Yours, etc,
STEPHEN MacDONAGH,
Malahide,
Co Dublin.