Sir, – I am sure that in every country in Europe and across the globe people are having a great laugh at our expense. The candidates, Michael D Higgins excluded, are making it look like a scene from one of those terrible election campaigns that are reminiscent of those on TV from the US.
Every piece of filth and dirt that can be dug up has been used – something that, as far as I can remember, has never been done with such venom in the past. Personal lifestyles, one’s own private business, are being aired in public by people who, though allegedly well-educated, stoop to the lowest forms of political advantage to further their careers.
Washing dirty linen in public is not a good idea as sometimes one’s own linen can inadvertently get mixed in. Please, let’s get back to the civilised job of electing a figure head and stop mucking around. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – The three television events which have been described as debates do not merit the title. After watching these events one could be forgiven for concluding that the candidates are Ryan Tubridy, Vincent Browne and Miriam O’Callaghan such is the emphasis on the aggression of the “interviewer” (not chairperson) rather than on the message of the actual candidates.
Are these occasions really about viewer ratings? Could we not have properly moderated debates in future, preferably in a neutral venue such as a college and with the debate carried by all television networks?
There are many models available such as those used in school and college debating competitions or those used in the American presidential election debates. Strict rules are followed and tough questions can be asked but in a fair, controlled atmosphere. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – Tom Cooper (October 14th) bemoans the fact that Gay Mitchell mentions his working class background ad nauseam.
Personally I don’t have an issue with this as it is part of what forms his current values.
However, as long as this theme is being pursued my own preference would be for Mary Davis to overcome the challenge of saying the words Special Olympics in every sentence she utters. She certainly did a great job for which she was well paid, along with thousands of wonderful volunteers who were not. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – Like many of us, Tom Cooper (October 14th) is understandably exasperated with Gay Mitchell’s repeated and (necessarily) retrospective invocations of an béal bocht.
It’s perhaps worth noting that if Mr Mitchell had indeed identified so closely with the working classes, he might have done better by them in joining the Labour Party (as they were) rather than the reactionary and economically liberal Fine Gael. – Yours, etc,