Madam, – Following John O’Donoghue’s passionate valediction in the Dáil on Tuesday, I have pondered the question: when will our political leaders realise that elected public office demands the highest integrity and candour? If we are to expect higher standards of morality in all sections of our society, and create an Ireland in which we can be justly proud, we have to start at the top.
Senior politicians must be made accountable for actions that fall short of what we expect from our young people.
The consequences of not doing so will inevitably lead to increased social unrest and worse. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – I feel the greatest sympathy for John O’Donoghue, so confused and forgetful.
Sacked by Eamon Gilmore, unaware that Mr Gilmore isn’t actually in charge and his own party are, as it turns out, the Government. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – I read with some amusement Vincent Lavery’s letter (October 14th). John O’Donoghue’s “character” was not assassinated. However his reckless, arrogant disregard for taxpayers’ money was rightly attacked and torn to shreds. He may be gone from office, and as far as I’m concerned good riddance to him, but for me I have one thing to say to him, I want my money back. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – What a pity Trevor Sargent wasn’t elected Ceann Comhairle. In the interest of balance, it would have been nice to have a Green in the next Dáil. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – In deference to his stated objective of not bringing his Office into disrepute while simultaneously achieving his right to reply to his detractors, did John O’Donoghue TD not consider immediate resignation and retreat to the back-benches? Then he would have been free to make a comprehensive defence of his actions in the House for a fair hearing by his fellow members. He could then have put himself forward to be re-elected to the chair by his peers if they concurred with his apparent belief that he did nothing wrong. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – To call this a resignation is a fallacy, while John O’Donoghue has stepped down from his posting as the Ceann Comhairle, resigned he has not.
He is still a deputy of Dáil Éireann and as such will still be entitled to all the perks and benefits that go with it.
At the end of the day nothing has really changed. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – With the injured arrogance of one out of touch with reality, the Bull’s speech hit home for us taxpayers. No apologies, no explanations, no answers to the real questions. Just bluster and bombast.
And to be then applauded by his peers? The plot has been well and truly lost by him and his fellow members of the Dáil. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – John O’Donoghue is a thundering disgrace.
His lengthy diatribe in the Dáil chamber was a grotesque, unrepentant, belligerent and unedifying abuse of the office of Ceann Comhairle. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Given his shameful extravagance, it is appropriate for the Ceann Comhairle to be forced out of office. It might not be entirely inappropriate for him to resign from his Dáil seat also.
I must, however, confess to an uncomfortable feeling about the manner of his departure. Whatever his offence the man should have been entitled under the principles of natural justice to offer a defence, which his role as Ceann Comhairle did not afford him.
In my humble opinion the appropriate course of action would have been for him to be questioned in the Oireachtas committee, afforded an opportunity to explain himself and then if his defence was risible, as I have no doubt it would have been, the TDs on the committee could have reported to their party leaders who should have tabled a motion of no confidence at that point.
Delighted as I am to see him gone – and may many more follow him – I am still left with a wary feeling towards the Opposition and the media for the nature and tone of their behaviour. – Yours, etc,