Finance’s missing phone records

Sir, – I find the carelessness of our Civil Service in mislaying the records of the late Brian Lenihan's phone calls at the crucial moment for our country of the putting in place of the bank guarantee to be farcical ("Department of Finance has 'no record' of Lenihan phone calls", Home News, March 20th). In light of Edward Snowden's revelations of the diligence and thoroughness of the British secret service in keeping track of our telephonic communications, I wonder has your correspondent considered applying to GCHQ for details of Brian Lenihan's phone records? If they were feeling in a generous mood I've no doubt they might even – in contrast to our Civil Service – provide a transcript of the actual conversations themselves! – Yours, etc,

CATHAL KERRIGAN,

Old Youghal Road,

Cork.