Sir, – The focus on world eco-nomic problems has given some respite from the economic atrocities committed here over the past seven or so years and the abuse by Roman Catholic church men for 20 and more years. Then, reading Fintan O’Toole, who I admire greatly (Weekend Review, August 6th), I felt swamped again by the daylight corruption and abuse committed with impunity by politicians, churchmen, bankers, accountants and developers.
The pain caused by cuts and extra costs imposed on the people of Ireland to rectify the damage done by these people is one thing; but there is a pall over the entire population that this country will, once again, not root out and punish all those who were criminally responsible for what has happened to us.
Some people say that we should focus on making sure it will never again happen. But part of that has to involve dealing fully with wrong doers. Corruption and getting away with it have become part of our culture. It won’t stop by itself, it has to be stopped.
Hundreds of millions were spent on auditors and accountants whose reports and advice was, to say the least, wrong. Why now are there only 10 gardaí trying to investigate all that has gone on in the banks? Some young unemployed accountants and lawyers should be drafted in – there are loads of them out there who would be thrilled to get such experience and relish the work.
To quote Mr O’Toole: “The damage that has been done to Irish society by a culture of impunity is so great and long lasting, the numbers so incomprehensibly vast, that it is easier to fix on a tiny detail.” My goodness, how quickly a wonderful man like David Norris was ousted and yet we are incapable of dealing head-on with those that have brought us to breaking point. Instead they were even rewarded for their behaviour.
Everyone, even Mr O’Toole, believes that all these issues will be let slide and never properly dealt with. The nation, I believe, will come alive again if we deal with them openly and promptly and the Government that does it will be heroes. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – Fintan O’Toole (Weekend Review, August 6th) encapsulates the reality that the laws of our Republic are not equitably applied to all citizens in accordance with our Constitution.
Mr O’Toole cites numerous examples of the so-called Irish elite, who appear to be answerable to nobody – in fact they appear to be able to act with impunity.
It beggars belief that so many of the individuals who have caused the financial meltdown of our economy are not brought to account for their actions. Some refuse to co-operate with the authorities and others disappear to other jurisdictions. Investigations, when attempted, appear to take an inordinate length of time. Yet in the US and the UK investigations, and where appropriate, convictions can be dispensed with relative speed and in a judicious manner.
Why is this State of ours apparently unwilling or unable to obtain evidence, and through the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions bring about convictions against those who have clearly breached good corporate governance and flouted Irish corporate law? Our international reputation has been regretfully tarnished by by the authorities’ apparent inertia when confronted with “white-collar crime”.
Ireland needs to bring to account all those who have tarnished the good name of our land, as justice delayed is justice denied, and we, the people of this country, deserve to see all who are proven to be guilty of crimes punished in accordance with the law of the land. Justice must be seen to be done, and done quickly in order to restore the confidence of our international trading partners that we can conduct our affairs without resorting to immoral or illegal practices. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – Fintan O’Toole’s article (Weekend Review, August 6th) caused me to reflect on the plight of the Home Payments customers and the small suppliers of Superquinn. The former were concerned with paying their bills and managing their finances responsibly. The latter, were small entrepreneurs endeavouring with meagre funds to start and maintain small businesses to get Ireland back on track.
Surely the founding fathers of our Republic intended that we should be more concerned about looking after the small farmer and those struggling to keep themselves and their families above the bread line.
Bailing out these people should rank higher than that of risk-taking bond-holders. In any event, looking after these small losses of our own is less costly and more beneficial in the long-term for our hope and belief in Ireland. I am sure most of us Irish taxpayers would like our Government to look after our own distressed “honest hard-working souls”. – Yours, etc,