Promises and elections

Sir, – Stephen Collins rightly bemoans the propensity of politicians to make unrealistic promises in the run-up to an election ("Has Irish politics learned nothing from the crash?", Inside Politics, July 25th). This happens because too often in the past it has proven to be a winning formula and voters never seem to learn the lesson.

One can only conclude that the Irish electorate can be bought but not taught. – Yours, etc,

PETER MOLLOY,

Glenageary,

Co Dublin.