Madam, - "Tory leader ticked off over use of official car" was the headline in last Tuesday's London Times. It seems Iain Duncan Smith may have broken the rules by using his chauffeur-driven official car for private or party political business, the same rules which apply to UK Government ministers.
If the British rules were applied here, I find it hard to believe that every Minister and Junior Minister could justify the provision of a full-time driver and car. We might see fewer of them at the Galway races.
It's a pity that our own politicians fail to demonstrate more self-restraint when it comes to providing themselves with very generous perks and allowances, the cost of which is staggering when we see the actual numbers published.
It would be a useful exercise to compute the total annual bill for salaries, allowances, expenses and benefits-in-kind for TDs, senators and local councillors.
Mind you, it might just put us off "democracy" if we saw how much it is costing us. - Yours, etc.,
PETER MOLLOY, Haddington Park, Glenageary, Co Dublin.