Madam, - Dr Vincent Kenny (February 28th), like Noel Whelan (Opinion, February 23rd) asks to us view in "context" the way in which the Taoiseach ran his constituency organisation.
Perhaps some of the context could be provided by other legendary political machines such as those of Charles Haughey and Ray Burke, which also had appetites for large sums of money, which were equally deficient in reliable records, and also failed to draw a distinction between contributions for personal use and those intended for political purposes.
In the Taoiseach's case, the extraordinarily careless book-keeping occurred against the background of his position as Minister for Finance, which made him ultimately responsible for correct accountancy procedures in everything from large corporations to football clubs, including the branches and constituency organisations of political parties.
It also occurred in the context of a lavishly staffed constituency office capable of dealing efficiently with a mountain of political representations but apparently incapable of applying a minimal standard of book-keeping.
Dr Kenny's suggestion that any reasonable person involved in politics during the period under scrutiny would take a benign view of Mr Ahern's bizarre financial dealings is a slur on many politicians and political activists who adhered to a much higher standard, even at the cost of having less well-resourced political machines.
The proposition that Dr Kenny and Noel Whelan are advancing is that in the context of widespread corruption and inadequate regulation it was excusable for the Minister for Finance, the guardian of financial propriety in the State, to conduct his financial affairs in a manner that showed a cavalier disregard for normal standards of accountancy. I don't think any reasonable person could accept that proposition.
Whatever about the distance between the Taoiseach and corruption, his actions during the period under scrutiny and his approach to the questions now being asked of him have presented the Mahon Tribunal with a difficult and distasteful task and the public with a very unedifying spectacle. - Yours, etc,
JOE AHERN, Hermitage Close, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16.
Madam, - In his article "Ahern's failings not close to corruption", Noel Whelan brought some moral clarity to bear on the media and political treatment of the Taoiseach. Mr Whelan provides necessary context and detail, without which there can be no fair assessment.
I am convinced by his conclusion. After exhaustive coverage of his financial affairs, none of it comes close to establishing that Mr Ahern ever did anything corrupt.
It is very unfair to focus relentlessly on individual failings during a limited time within a 30-year political life. It is perverse and unjust to try to redefine Mr Ahern's character on the basis of these limited failings. The substantial argument is about character and the overall thrust of Bertie Ahern's life so far in politics. A detached observer will see the essential features of this life: hard work, a lot of patience in achieving the goals of peace and prosperity, a record comparable to that of Sean Lemass.
The moral outrage of Fine Gael and Labour leaders about the failings of the Taoiseach leaves me unmoved. I am very worried indeed about the supremacy of lynch-mob justice in the media and the political treatment of Mr Ahern.
We should all be angry about the steady erosion of natural justice, which is the right of every citizen, lowly or eminent. - Yours, etc,
(Fr) BREIFNE WALKER, Dublin 12.
Madam, - Isn't it time Bertie fell on his words? - Yours, etc,
BOB LEE, Sydenham Mews, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin.