PARISH-PUMP POLITICS

Sir, - it is with some dismay that I have followed the recent correspondence concerning Mr Bertie Ahern's dealings with Mr Deegan…

Sir, - it is with some dismay that I have followed the recent correspondence concerning Mr Bertie Ahern's dealings with Mr Deegan (Irish Times July 13th) and Ms Ni Cearnaigh (July 17th), in my opinion, Bertie Ahern should, very politely, tell both of these people to go away. National politics has been bedevilled by parish pump issues for far too long. Surely, local authorities should deal with these matters.

If we have learned anything from the murders of Jerry McCabe and Veronica Guerin, it must be that our national politicians have failed in their primary task - legislating for the protection of the citizens. But that failure is not entirely of their own making. We want them to be legislators, but we insist also that they pursue a medical card for Mrs X, a new bus stop for Road Y, and get the boiler fixed in School Z.

For my own part, national politicians who knock on my door in future will be asked to outline only their personal achievements as legislators during their period in office. I have a feeling that the conversations are going to be very short! - Yours, etc.,

Mount Anville Wood,

READ MORE

Goatstown,

Dublin 14.