Sir, - Party politics in Ireland has taken a battering. Successive taoisigh, from the downright dodgy to the squeaky clean variety, seem to have developed an extraordinary relationship with the banks. The banks, for their part, have taken a cavalier attitude with what is essentially other people's money. When you or I save a few bob with the banks, do we give them permission to use this money to write off top politicians' debts?
Senior politicians have developed a relationship with businessmen, builders and property speculators which would be the envy of those who run under-developed banana republics. Ideally, one enters politics to serve the people, although it seems that those on ego trips or out for personal power will always be part of the political community. But where did it all go so dreadfully wrong?
As an independent politician at a local level, I am certain that had somebody alleged that I might have mislaid, to put it delicately, £50,000, I would be answering questions, not at a tribunal, but at my local Garda station.
Were I to default on a mortgage, the banks would evict me and make me homeless.
Why, then, should politicians who join a party be treated differently from you or me?
Independents by their very nature are judged on an issue by issue basis. Irrespective of their political philosophy, their masters are those who vote for them, not those who pull strings at the top.
Questions must be answered, not just about individual party politicians, but about the whole structure of Irish political society. - Yours, etc., Ald John Gilligan,
City Hall, Limerick.