Sir, – It is depressing to witness the political reaction playing out in Dáil Éireann as a result of the controversy currently engulfing Sinn Féin over references written by press officers in the Northern Ireland office (“The Irish Times view on Sinn Féin’s PR problem: questions remain”, October 9th).
Given our recent and not so recent history in this country in education, within the church and society at large, you would think the energy of all parties would go towards having robust child safeguarding procedures in place, alongside stringent vetting and the necessary protocols around disclosures and accusations. No political party or politician should need reminding of how triggering this ongoing spat among themselves could be for those harmed in the past by abuse. The unheard voice in this “debate”, as always, is the voice of victims. It is time for leadership on this issue to prevail. There is nothing to be gained in pathetic political point scoring, election or not. – Yours, etc,
STEPHEN O’HARA,
Carrowmore,
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Sligo.
Sir, – In Mary McDonald’s defence in the Dáil of her party’s behaviour regarding character references for a paedophile, she accused “very senior members” of Coalition parties of having written character references for “convicted rapists and child abusers”. She said “transparency goes both ways” (News, October 9th).
Her defence then is “Sure we’re only as bad as the rest of yiz”.
Let the electorate remember that when they are being sold “change” in a month or so. – Yours, etc,
MICHAEL GEANEY,
Terenure,
Dublin 6W.
