Madam, - I agree with Teresa Graham (January 24th) that "clientelism" is an insidious feature of Irish political life. However, this will always be so while we have an electoral system based on small, local constituencies.
Our representatives justify their salaries by comparison with management jobs in the private sector. I agree with this yardstick, but believe that it is time that the job specification of a TD was altered accordingly.
As members of the legislature, it should be the function of TDs to legislate on matters affecting all citizens, not to make representations on behalf of local, individual interests, however worthy.
A continental-style "list" system for elections would allow us move away from the kind of clientelism which, if it occurred in a so-called developing nation, we, as supposedly sophisticated Europeans, would sneer at. - Yours, etc,
SEAN BELLEW, Upper Faughart, Dundalk, Co Louth.
Madam, - Many people have called for an end to the electioneering game of constituency clientelism following the recent controversy about the letters from Fianna Fáil Minister of State Tony Killeen.
Instead of blaming the politicians, perhaps one should lay blame at the real culprits in all of this - the people who voted them in. - Yours, etc,
DERRICK GERAGHTY, Shanacloon, Kildare, Co Kildare.
Madam, - I have, at times, written to Government Ministers and sometimes I have received a reply.
Am I to take it, now, that the ministers concerned had no knowledge of those responses? - Yours, etc,
MATTIE LENNON, Lacken, Blessington, Co Wicklow.
Madam, - Minister of State Tony Killeen's lack of moral compass with regard to his abdication of responsibility for the requests for early release of prisoners made in his name is shocking but not particularly surprising.
After all, he is a member of the Government whose Taoiseach increased his popularity when it became known that he had accepted inappropriate payments. - Yours, etc,
GREG SCANLON, Ballycasey Manor, Shannon, Co Clare.