Sir, – If it is now to be the case that a Government minister may at any time disclose to the public personal details of a fellow politician as obtained from another arm of the state, be it Garda or other security service, Revenue or government department, then it seems only the most virtuous of our politicians will be free from the threat of this form revelation in the future.
Indeed, it may end up that only those without sin or transgression of any sort should consider themselves for election at all come next general election. This could well leave us with mostly new faces in the next Dáil. That might not be a bad thing!
One of the main aims of the Fine Gael five-point manifesto at the last election was to “overhaul the way our political system works to stamp out cronyism and low standards”. Maybe it is simply the case that the Minister has now found a new way to reach such aim. Should he therefore be cheered for it and not chided? – Yours, etc,
FRANK HANNON,
Cloghroe, Co Cork.
Sir, – What is the point of the law if its enforcement is at the discretion of individual gardaí?
What is the point of the gardaí exercising discretion if they are to be overruled by district superintendents?
What is the point of a judiciary if the gardaí make the decisions for them?
What is the point of a legislature if the laws it enacts can be disregarded in such a cavalier manner?
What is the point of a Minister for Justice who thinks everything is Hunky Dory? – Yours, etc,
PAT MURPHY,
Rathdown Park,
Greystones,
Co Wicklow.
Sir, – It’s hardly earth-shattering. More like a storm in a pink T-shirt. – Yours, etc,
BRIAN AHERN,
Meadow Copse,
Clonsilla, Dublin 15.
A chara, – I wonder is there some particular reason why Dáil members will not use mobile phone docks in their cars – they can surely claim them on their expenses. Bewildering (both notions). – Is mise,
MOYA Ní EILI,
Bothar Ghort an Bhile,
Baile Atha Cliath 4.