Sir, – Whatever their faults, de Valera, Costello, Lemass, Lynch, Cosgrave, Haughey, FitzGerald, Reynolds, Bruton, Ahern or Cowen would never have loaded an Oireachtas joint committee after the formal election of members. They would, of course, have ensured that they had the necessary majority before the election. That is what political savvy is, and, unfortunately, the Taoiseach does not have it. That speaks for itself. – Yours, etc,
CORMAC MEEHAN,
Bundoran,
Co Donegal.
Sir, – I see Stephen Donnelly has decided to take his ball and run home. Good riddance, Mr Donnelly. – Yours, etc,
PEADAR O’SULLIVAN,
Highfield,
Carlow.
Sir, – One would hope that the remaining non-governmental members of the proposed banking inquiry would follow Stephen Donnelly’s example and withdraw from participation. The investigation is now bound to be a travesty. The members on the Coalition side are obviously already beyond embarrassment at the “Kennymandering” of the inquiry. I suppose that, having disbanded local councils and having attempted to dismantle the Seanad, manipulating personnel on an Oireachtas inquiry is small potatoes. – Yours, etc,
STEPHEN MacDONAGH,
Sonesta,
Malahide,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – The Government’s decision to effectively take control of the panel to set the terms of reference for the banking inquiry is utterly indefensible. It further undermines Fine Gael’s pre-election pledge to reform antiquated Oireachtas procedures to usher in a new era of transparency and above-board politics.
The inquiry was supposed to transcend party politics, its sole remit being to get at the truth, however painful or embarrassing, of what caused the catastrophic events back in 2008 that almost destroyed our country and wrecked so many lives.
Instead we find that politicians are yet again grasping at the levers of power, seeking advantage and carrying on with the same old “cute hoor” ways that Fine Gael for years loudly accused Fianna Fáil of pursuing.
The inquiry is an extremely important one, given the implications for all of us, and for Ireland’s future, of the banking collapse. To command public confidence and the credibility that is so essential to its ultimate findings, the inquiry cannot afford to be mired in political controversy or perceived to be directly or indirectly influenced by the interests or biases of any one political party.
I’m disappointed in the Taoiseach for standing over the Government’s shambolic handling of such an incredibly sensitive issue. He should have the courage and honesty to put party politics aside on this occasion, reverse the Government majority on the inquiry terms of reference panel, and allow the inquiry to then proceed in a non-partisan way to do its exceptionally challenging job because, let’s face it, truth and party politics don’t mix. – Yours, etc,
JOHN FITZGERALD,
Lower Coyne Street,
Callan,
Co Kilkenny.