Sir, – We have a make-believe Government of 35 supported by 24 backbenchers. Cabinet collective responsibility is out the window. The forum on Brexit is banjaxed before it sits down. Joe O’Toole is gone after barely a wet week.
We have a Minister of State for Health who smokes and feels the ban should be eased. Two Ministers refused to pay their water charges. A senior Cabinet member says wind turbines are bad one day, for the benefit of constituents, and good the next, because they reflect Government policy. Worst of all, we have a Taoiseach who responds to the murderous feud in Dublin by saying he can do nothing.
How much more can we tolerate? How long until political reality returns? – Yours, etc,
OLIVER ROGERS,
Virginia,
Co Cavan.
Sir, – Rahul Bedi's article, describing the creation of a "ministry of happiness" to promote contentment and serenity in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh (July 6th), makes me ponder what interesting new ministries could be created here.
What about creating a “Minister for the Abolition of Begrudgery”, a “ Minister for the Effective Regulation of Charities” and a “Minister for Keeping Independent TDs Under Control”? – Yours, etc,
GARRY BURY,
Dalkey,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – Your editorial of July 5th complains about "the fissiparous, undisciplined nature of the minority Government" ("À la carte politics weakens Kenny").
You forget that government during the Celtic Tiger period was the exact opposite of being fissiparous and undisciplined. It was so united and so well-disciplined that it stayed together right through the Celtic Tiger era up to the bankrupting of the country in 2010. – Yours, etc,
A LEAVY,
Sutton, Dublin 13.
Sir, – Collective responsibility or selective responsibility? – Yours, etc,
TOM GILSENAN,
Beaumont,
Dublin 9.