Sir, – I notice a washing additive in my local supermarket that guarantees to eliminate the harshness from water. Would a teaspoonful of it in the coffee be helpful during the current negotiations on government formation? – Yours, etc,
SHANE DONAGHER,
Drumiskabole, Co Sligo.
Sir, – Alas, when it comes to making compromises and finding common ground, though we may dilute here and there, might there always be something in the end that cannot be watered down? – Yours, etc,
DONAL McMAHON,
Saggart, Dublin 24.
Sir, – I have observed very little outrage at the fact that the formation of a government is being held up principally, we are being told, by the difficulty in agreeing the future for our water services. It is, of course, important that we have a proper, functioning water provider, in whatever form this may take. Despite the initial problems and the initial lavish spending, it seems that progress is now being made, and this should be built upon, not dismantled.
There are many more serious problems facing our country – homelessness, the state of our health services, the appalling refugee crisis and the prospect of economic turbulence if Britain decides to leave the EU, to mention the most obvious.
Commentators and journalists should stress these points, so that the political negotiators can be encouraged to look at a broader picture. Enough of the political point-scoring, please, and look at the state of our country and of the world and act accordingly. – Yours, etc,
EITHNE O’CALLAGHAN,
Ballsbridge, Dublin 4.
Sir, – An “independent water commission”? Do they think we are total idiots? In the almost 40 years I have been eligible to vote, this is as cynical a fudge as I can recall. – Yours, etc,
DENIS MORTELL,
Dublin 14.
Sir, – The long-overdue statement from the Association of Consulting Engineers of Ireland (April 25th) on the damage that would stem from scrapping Irish Water should, nonetheless, be a timely reminder to political parties that poorly informed policies are not in the national interest and should be resisted even where seeking to appease a fraction of the electorate. – Yours, etc,
RICK BOELENS,
Portroe, Co Tipperary.
Sir, – How many tails will it take to wag the dog? – Yours, etc,
PATRICK WARD,
Kilkenny.