Sir, – If Gay Byrne had won the race for the presidency on an anti-EU ticket would we have had to have a second election? – Yours, etc,
Sir, – Your Letters page (August 13th) contained several column inches devoted to criticism of Gay Byrne’s “Mad people in Brussels” comment. Among your contributors, David Neligan asserts that our economic survival is “solely” dependent on our European “friends”.
I would argue that the current bailout policy is clearly failing, throughout Europe. That we elected a government on the basis of promises to reverse the bailout policy. And that several economic alternatives have been proposed, but ignored in favour of protecting the euro project at all costs. Those in charge of this policy are based in Brussels and are, in my opinion, indeed quite “mad”. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – As Fine Gael has selected Gay Mitchell MEP to be its presidential candidate, can I assume that he will not be collecting a MEP’s remuneration and expenses while he is canvassing the Irish electorate? – Yours, etc,
Sir, – “Shoemaker stick to your last”. Seldom has the old maxim been so apt, and thankfully, so faithfully obeyed. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – Apropos of the latest debacle in the presidential race, each of the parties emerge with bloodied noses: the hapless Micheál Martin, Gay Byrne, and the all-devouring August media. As the Prince of Verona in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet (running this week in the Iveagh Gardens, unplugged and free of charge) declares at the end of the play: “All are punished.” – Yours, etc,
Sir, – There’s only one man left to bring us over the Rubicon. Step forward Charles O’Carroll Kelly! – Yours, etc,
Sir, – Recently I heard a most impressive radio interview with Fr Peter McVerry SJ.
Apart from his well-known and remarkable work with young people who have fallen victims of the dreadful scourge of drugs and homelessness, he comes across as someone with courage and integrity. He is a person of whom we could be justly proud, both at home and abroad. If Peter McVerry could be persuaded to stand I believe he would be an ideal presidential candidate.
His practical attitude to solving the problems of inequality in today’s Ireland and his innate sense of justice for all citizens would go a long way towards reviving our hard-won reputation for the real human values of care, kindness and respect.
As an added bonus, he could use the presidency to increase the national awareness of those in our society who have little or no voice at the highest level. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – I am very disturbed at being deprived of the opportunity to express my opinion about Senator David Norris on the ballot paper.
Opinion polls continue to rate the level of support for Senator Norris at about 40 per cent which, in a representative democracy, should yield about 80 Oireachtas signatures on Senator Norris’s nomination paper. I am at a loss to understand why the senator has not even been able to muster 20.
As a believer in democracy, I am unwilling to spoil my vote, yet if my elected representatives, between them, cannot figure out a way to put Mr Norris on the ballot paper, I feel I have no option but to do it for myself. In the meantime, I will be sporting a home-made badge saying “I am putting David Norris on the ballot paper”. – Yours, etc,