Sir, – I have recently heard the cuckoo a number of times but there has been neither sound nor sight of the lesser-spotted Kenny. Is this now an endangered species? – Yours, etc,
DESMOND EGAN,
Newbridge, Co Kildare.
Sir, – Alan Dukes (June 3rd) asks Fintan O'Toole ("Loud silence on public interest in Siteserv affair", Opinion & Analysis, June 2nd) not to pontificate on Mr Duke's "puzzlement on the meaning of public interest". It seems to me that in defending Denis O'Brien's right to privacy in regard to his banking affairs Mr Dukes has lost sight of an important point. Of course Denis O'Brien has a right to privacy in his personal banking affairs. What Mr Dukes appears to be forgetting is that there is a distinction to be made between Mr O'Brien as a citizen and Mr O'Brian as a businessman in his dealings with IRBC when acquiring publicly owned assets. Catherine Murphy TD is right to bring to public attention the claim that "Mr O'Brien was enjoying a rate of around 1.25 per cent when IRBC could have been charging 7.5 per cent". It may be that these allegations will turn out to be unfounded, but until all the relevant facts have been disclosed through a properly conducted inquiry the people will not feel that the public interest has been well served. – Yours, etc,
JOHN MORRISSY,
Bolton, England.
Sir, – If, for some reason, a politician publicly, and in what they believe to be in the public interest, identifies and names me as a perpetrator of horrendous crimes under Dáil privilege and I am totally innocent of such crimes, what chance do I have of regaining my good name? Why do I feel that this is wrong? Will any person who knows me just shrug it off? The old saying “no smoke without fire” comes to mind. What recourse to justice do I have?
If a politician, elected by the people, wrongs a person in the Dáil under privilege (unintentionally, accidentally or not), who is responsible? The individual citizen, if they made the same false accusations outside the Dáil, would be sued.
I agree with freedom of the press and the right of our elected representatives to speak out but I have a feeling that apart from them, the rest of us are pretty well snookered! In a democratic society the people have the right to assert their beliefs and their grievances and I agree that right has to be protected. Yet it sounds hollow to me that because I cannot afford a barrister et al, that I do not have the same privileges as the people I choose to vote for. They are meant to represent the people, not tower above them. – Yours, etc,
JOE BRENNAN,
Cabinteely,
Dublin 18.
Sir, – Will there ever come a time in this country when we don’t have an inquiry or an independent review announced every second week ? – Yours, etc,
DIANA WHITE,
Glenageary,Co Dublin.
A chara, – Writing from Vienna, Dr John Doherty (June 3rd) highlights the transparency of the Norwegian tax system – in which all returns are open to public view – compared with the total confidentiality promised in in Ireland.
Creative accounting, however, is not unknown in Scandinavia.
Norwegian friends assure me that you know your neighbours are wealthy when they have ticked “none” in their income declaration box. – Is mise,
WALTER GOE,
Rathgar,Dublin 6.
Sir, – What an enthralling game in prospect. The hurlers on the pitch, led by their captain Denis O’Brien, will have their mettle tested by the hurlers on the ditch, captained by the formidable Catherine Murphy TD.
My money is on the later. They are fresher, they have the benefit of hindsight and a trump card – they have information on the opposition. Mouth-watering stuff – it will make great television. – Yours, etc,
STEPHEN FARRELLY,
Clontarf, Dublin 3.