Sir, – Michael Brewster (April 12th) takes aim at those who would criticise the interactions between Denis O’Brien and the Taoiseach and other Government individuals. He states that those present (in the case of the New York Stock Exchange visit of An Taoiseach) wanted, “. . . to meet and exchange views and opinions with very successful business people like Denis O’Brien.”
In the US, a country where malpractice in business or politics is swiftly and decisively punished, it defies all belief to suggest that American business people would be interested in meeting someone against whom adverse findings have been recorded by an independent, and judicially-led, State tribunal. There is absolutely no doubt whatsoever that were such a finding to be made about a US business person concerning a similar situation in that country, both political and business leaders would quickly distance themselves from all contact.
The fact that Haitians and Jamaicans will “light up” on hearing the name Denis O’Brien has little to recommend it; after all, didn’t the TD involved in all of this have little difficulty being re-elected? The parish-pump doesn’t exist in Ireland alone.
In Irish politics, and perhaps with the Irish-American business lobby to whom Mr Brewster refers, there seems to be comfort in ambiguity. – Yours, etc,