Sir, – Since the Budget was announced, and Labour has had to deal with the many protests about its support for the cuts in social protection, Eamon Gilmore has repeatedly characterised the support by Labour TDs as “courageous”, referring to their “courage” in voting through the cuts.
Courage is a Garda standing on a dangerous bridge during a flood to divert people and traffic away and then losing his own life when the flood takes him. Courage is what cost a young father and husband his life when he tried to save lives in a storm-lashed cave on the Mayo coast. In fact, if we are to deal with courage in the political arena, then it is typified by the courage shown by John Hume, Gerry Adams and David Trimble in what they did to achieve peace on this island. It is reasonable to say that most of us know what constitutes courage.
Let’s be clear. Taking money from poor people and from carers is nothing short of cowardice. – Yours, etc,