Bertie's new role

Madam, – Former US president Bill Clinton travels to North Korea, securing the release of two jailed journalists and, possibly…

Madam, – Former US president Bill Clinton travels to North Korea, securing the release of two jailed journalists and, possibly, paving a path for renewed negotiations with Pyongyang on nuclear missiles. Former taoiseach Bertie Ahern signs up to be a sports columnist for the News of the World. Hmm. – Yours, etc,

RORY O’TOOLE,

Arconagh,

Naas,

Co Kildare.

Madam, – Our bankers and property developers have shown themselves to be little more than a crowd of spivs, our politicians are perceived to be incompetent and not in control and now our “sports mad” former taoiseach Bertie Ahern, on a Dáil salary and pension of over €150,000 a year (and a Merc and driver for life) is writing a sports column for a British tabloid newspaper (Home News, August 5th).

Each day the news becomes a little more bizarre. I’m starting to read The Irish Times through my fingers. – Yours, etc,

LOUIS HOGAN,

Glendassan Drive,

Harbour View,

Wicklow.