Madam, - Fintan O'Toole's comments on Bertie Ahern and Brian Cowen made very thought-provoking reading (Weekend Review, April 5th, Opinion, April 8th). In the Ireland of today, there is regrettably little sense of shame or embarrassment. It beggars belief that no Fianna Fáil minister has managed a word of disapproval of the party leader. I am reminded me of Benjamin Disraeli's words: "Damn your principles! Stick to your party". (Better still, stick to your leader.)
It is incredible that none of them could see anything wrong with the Taoiseach's complex financial matters or his confusing and even arrogant insistence that he had done nothing wrong. Were these Ministers guarding their own future cabinet positions and the perks which go with them? How can they command any respect from informed members of the electorate or set any sort of example to the young of this nation?
As for Mr O'Toole asking Mr Cowen to show the guts of a leader by sacking Mary Harney, how can he, when he himself "was a very poor minister for health"? - Yours, etc,
MARY TOOMEY, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co Dublin.
Madam, - I noted that you published a letter on April 8th containing the term "Biffo". We all know what the acronym stands for and it contains very abusive language. As a proud Offaly man, I detest the use of this term.
I enjoy a good joke as much as the next man, and I'm sure some people will accuse me of over-sensitivity. But I don't see any other county subjected to the use of such derogatory language in the television and print media.
While I am not surprised to see this term used in the tabloids, I would have expected better from the paper of record. - Yours, etc,
ALAN LOUGHNANE, Birr, Co Offaly.
Madam, - Fintan O Toole urges Brian Cowen to "show guts" and sack Mary Harney. Of course he fails to say who should or could replace her. Can he name even one candidate from the Government side who might do a better job?
Anyone for Martin Cullen? - Yours, etc,
GERRY JORDAN, Rehins, Ballina, Co Mayo.
A Chara, - Bertie's gone. Bev's back. Normal standards apply (J. Gormley please note). - Is mise,
LIAM BYRNE, Donnybrook, Dublin 4.
Madam, - Whatever other qualities or skills our Taoiseach-presumptive may possess - and I am sure they are many - we are particularly heartened to learn from Miriam Lord column that he is well able to hold his own in convivial company.
Not only that, but he obviously has superior taste in humorous songs, if we may judge from the report that, when the spirit moves him, he can deliver a good rendition of The Pool Song.
This epic is attributed by your columnist to Jimmy Crowley. But I know Jimmy would be the first to acknowledge its true author to be the Cork box-player, bon-vivant and composer of comic songs Con "Fada" Ó Drisceoil.
The song is included in his collection, The Spoons Murder & Other Mysteries, which it was our privilege to publish recently - with Arts Council support, let it be noted.
I hope our future Taoiseach's commitments will allow him the time to pick up one or two more gems from the dedicated copy of this book which is now on its way to him. - Yours, etc,
TERRY MOYLAN, Craft Recordings, Bluebell Road, Dublin 12.
Madam, - At last, someone has said the Emperor has no clothes! Michael O'Leary of Ryanair is not everyone's cup of tea, but he has done this State some service. His airline has provided employment, inexpensive access to this island, and not a little amusement, for longer than his bête noire Bertie was in power.
His unashamed promotion of his business palled at times, but behind all the flim-flam was a relentless drive for the kind of efficiency that should make us all weep that politics was not his first career choice.
In his comments about our departing leader, he again got it right on the button: Bertie was "a clown" and "a disaster for the economy". His talents were those of the three-card-trick man of yore: keep the punters thinking they had a chance, while at the same time distracting their attention from the reality of what was really going on.
Fortunately, one onlooker was not fooled. Mr O'Leary saw what was happening, and was the only leading public figure in the country to draw attention to the charade of the past 10 years.
We will look back on the Bertie years as a gigantic wasted opportunity to put right many of the things that were wrong with the country, while many more resulted from his ad-hoc approach to problem-solving. - Yours, etc,
ANDREW JONES, Mullagh, Co Cavan.