Madam, - Am I just one of the lucky ones who has never had a problem with Ryanair - an airline which has been nothing but courteous to my 83-year-old mother every time she uses it to fly to Bristol, unaccompanied, to visit family. Am I the only one thankful Ryanair created a new travel market for the Irish public? Or is everyone else just moaning about one of the most successful Irish companies there has ever been?
If the Government stepped down for five years at the next election and agreed with the Opposition to hand over the running of the country to Michael O'Leary, the Civil Service would be decentralised and rationalised into an efficient, well-run organisation, the road-building programme would be completed, all the schools which need rebuilding would be rebuilt.
The €2.2 billion windfall tax intake would be invested wisely and not thrown away on social welfare. In other words, a lot more would be done if he ran the country rather than any of the politicians we will have to pick from later this year. If only! - Yours, etc,
BRENDAN QUINN, Enniscrone, Co Sligo.
Madam, - Joseph O'Brien (January 4th) hopes that this will be the year when the travelling public finally stands up to Ryanair. Might I suggest the following? He and those others who persistently gripe about Ryanair should take their business elsewhere, while those of us who are happy to pay low prices for admittedly poor customer service can continue to do so.
The outcome is win-win: those flying with Ryanair avail of travelling opportunities that might otherwise not be afforded them, while those choosing to pay a premium for air travel themselves benefit from lower fares that have been induced by competitive forces unleashed as a result of Ryanir's actions. - Is mise,
CORMAC O'DEA, Braemor Park, Churchtown, Dublin 14.