Madam, – Mary Maher (September 17th) puts forward the ability to sing "six long verses of The Lakes of Pontchartrain" as some form of sobriety test. Surely when such an inexpensive test is available, we have wasted vast amounts of money equipping the Garda with redundant alcohol-testing devices? She also appears to suggest that a knowledge of the song is essential for governing the country. A victory for the ballad over the ballot box, perhaps? – Yours, etc,
Madam, – I see that Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh is due to retire. Perhaps Brian Cowen might take his place? – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Mary Maher (September 17th) writes in defence of the Taoiseach, that about 80 per cent of the population are probably guilty of the same sort of behaviour that led to the Taoiseach's lacklustre performance on Morning Ireland.God forbid anyone should seek to hold the man who runs the country to a higher standard than 80 per cent of the population!
I would not begrudge the man a few drinks and bit of fun. I do it myself from time to time. But I tend not to do it when I have work in the morning. If I want to stay in the bar singing and drinking until 3.30am, I try to ensure I don’t have anything on at 8.45 the next morning. If the Taoiseach wanted to socialise until 3.30am, then he shouldn’t have agreed to do an interview five hours later.
I don’t think we are holding the Taoiseach to too high a standard by asking that he show an ability to plan ahead by less than six hours. – Yours, etc,