Sir, - What an extraordinary coincidence! Last week the Department of Agriculture was surprised at the extent of illegal animal trafficking and this week the Department of the Environment is variously "astonished" and "surprised" by bungalow blitz and by farmers selling their "sons" and daughters' homes" to outsiders.
Are the personnel in these two Departments related? Perhaps they come from the same clan - the O'Naifs, perhaps, or the McInnocents? Given our weather they were probably also surprised by the last shower they came down in. - Yours, etc.,
Eamon Sweeney, South Hill, Dartry, Dublin 6.