Sir, – Joe Higgins’s promise to hold the Taoiseach “to account” for implementing his democratic mandate of deficit reduction is a blatant announcement of his intention to showboat for political gain rather than seek answers as to how a nation became gripped by a property psychosis and marched into a financial quagmire.
Unfortunately we can expect bored journalists to chortle at Mr Higgins’s “bon mots” and snicker at his skewering of “Enda”. – Yours, etc,
PAUL KEAN,
Long Meadows Apartments, Conyngham Road,
Dublin 8.
Sir, – With respect to your editorial “Donnelly’s exit” (June 18th), although principles are obviously desirable in a politician, the reality is that in this case, Mr Donnelly’s decision to resign has been rash and misplaced. TDs are elected to make as strong a contribution to the Oireachtas as is feasible. For Opposition TDs, there is a special onus to “take whatever role you can get”, as the availability of central, influential roles would be limited for such TDs given the nature of our democratic system. Mr Donnelly may feel he is justified by bringing to attention concerns he held, but essentially any national journalist can write critically about any matter that arises in the Oireachtas and fundamentally achieve the same objective.
The better action would have been to quietly stay on the committee and diligently make a contribution to the work of that body, in the national interest. – Yours, etc,
JOHN KENNEDY,
Knocknashee,
Goatstown,
Dublin 14.