Madam - Beverley Flynn cuts a deal with RTÉ to pay off some of the costs RTÉ has incurred in fighting her failed libel action. Presumably TV licence-payers will have to pay the balance. Bertie promises to consider her for promotion to Government Minister. How appropriate given she was found by the High Court inspectors to have encouraged tax evasion! Should she become minister for communications with responsibility for RTÉ, would she encourage us to evade the licence fee? - Yours, etc,
FRANK SCHNITTGER, Red Lane, Blessington, Co Wicklow.
Madam, - May I , as an RTÉ customer, now expect similar treatment as it gave to Beverley Flynn and be given a 50 per cent reduction in my licence fee or maybe I don't owe RTÉ enough for such discount. - Yours, etc,
BRENDAN BUTLER, The Moorings, Malahide, Co Dublin
Madam, - The RTÉ threat for the non-payment of the €158 TV licence is "a prosecution which could result in a fine of €634.87 for a first offence or €1,269.74 for a second or subsequent offence". Can the national broadcaster square that policy with the treatment of Beverley Flynn, who settled costs of €2.84 million with a €1.25 million payoff? - Yours, etc,
SHANE CORR, Riverbank, Drogheda.
Madam, - I was delighted to see that having completely settled her debt with RTÉ, the stage is now set for Beverley Flynn's triumphant return to the ranks of Fianna Fáil. If the promised (and well deserved!) ministerial position is not immediately available, may I suggest that in the mean-time Ms Flynn co-ordinate the "Ray Burke for president" campaign, or perhaps chair a committee to investigate the building of the "Liam Lawlor Memorial Shopping Centre". - Yours, etc,
MICHAEL KELLY, Victoria Street, Portobello, Dublin 8.
Madam, - Beverley Flynn's fulsome embrace of Fianna Fáil in an interview on RTÉ's The Week in Politics programme, stating that to all intents and purposes she never really left the party; that she was born into Fianna Fáil and always felt part of it, contrasts strongly with the noises she gave prior to the election about how she would, if possible, elect a taoiseach from her constituency. In the event, it seems the class act sniffed power for herself and all this talk was for naught. - Yours, etc,
DAVID GARRAHY, Santry, Dublin 9.
Madam, - I refer to RTÉ's reported settlement with Beverley Flynn. It has been reported that Ms Flynn owes RTÉ €2.84 million in legal costs yet RTÉ has settled with Ms Flynn for a sum in the region of €1.3 million. As a licence payer I would be interested to know who will pick up the shortfall in the amount owed to RTÉ's lawyers. Further, should I take it that when I receive my next TV licence bill that RTÉ will be happy with me paying less than half the billed amount? - Yours, etc,
DES FULLAM, All Hallows Green, Drumcondra, Dublin 9.
Madam, - It has come to my attention that a sitting TD and potential member of the Government has signed a deal with a semi-state company which, I understand, is of considerable benefit to the TD as well as advantageous to Fianna Fáil.
When asked, the semi-state company and the TD refuse to provide details of the agreement which would establish whether the agreement was fair or if the semi-state company was pressured into an unfair and unethical deal by the current Government.
As I don't want to get involved I would ask that someone from the media or opposition take up the case.
So if anyone would like to contact me I will provide all the details I know. I can reveal, however, that the initials of those involved are RTÉ and BF. - Yours, etc,
CARL BEAME, Waterloo House, Mallow, Co Cork.
Madam, - Dublin Zoo is seeking a name for its baby giraffe. In view of its extensive neck may I suggest "Beverley"? - Yours, etc,
PETER COOGAN, Temple Manor, Celbridge, Co Kildare.