Sir, – During his last term in office, Enda Kenny kept on announcing (and reannouncing) job-creation programmes to create over 100,000 new jobs.
Given the plethora of Ministers of State that he recently appointed, maybe he is finally in with a shout of hitting his targets. – Yours, etc,
BRIAN CULLEN,
Rathfarnham, Dublin 16.
Sir, – “Minflation”. – Yours, etc,
DERMOT O’SHEA,
Rathanghan, Co Kildare.
Sir, – It it is disappointing that the Taoiseach has decided not to appoint a minister (junior or senior) with clear responsibility for science. Having removed the term science from the junior ministry in 2011, even the junior ministry for research and innovation has now disappeared. Politics is often about optics, and the optics suggest science is not a priority. – Yours, etc,
Dr EOIN LETTICE,
School of Biological,
Earth and Environmental
Sciences,
University College Cork.
Sir, – The appointment of 18 Ministers of State, four of them to the Department of Health, is just the latest and most blatant expression of the political subversion of the role of Ministers.
It is clear now that the primary objective of politics is the advancement of the political class and not the welfare of the population as a whole and the advancement of the country.
Perhaps it is time for our outspoken President to address the Dáil (as President Mary Robinson did) and remind the political class of their responsibilities to the nation. – Yours, etc,
PADDY CORLEY,
Ennis,
Co Clare.
Sir, – Is there a formal collective noun for a plethora of Ministers of State? If not, may I suggest an “embarrassment”? – Yours, etc,
PAUL DELANEY,
Dalkey,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – There’s too much cynicism about. I wish the new Minsters of State every success. – Yours, etc,
ANNE BYRNE,
Bray, Co Wicklow.
A chara, – Surely congratulations are due to An Taoiseach for moving away from the inequitable practice whereby a few lucky counties with a local TD appointed a Minister received more favourable treatment than other counties not so fortunate?
The appointment on Thursday of a further 18 Ministers of State now ensures there are enough Ministers to allow one to every county. – Is mise,
RONAN CORVIN,
Moycullen,
Co Galway.