Sir, - In a recent speech to a Labour Party regional conference in Cork, Mr Ruairi Quinn said that socialist values, to which he presumably subscribes, "utterly reject criminal and anti social behaviour" and that "equality must mean the same protection for all our citizens".
Such sentiments are rich indeed coming from the Deputy Leader of a party which, in collaboration with Fianna Fail, was responsible for the introduction of an amnesty which not only rewarded tax evaders but, in all probability, was used by criminals to legitimise the proceeds of crime.
It is ironic that, while Mr Quinn was mouthing platitudes about equality of treatment for all, Fintan O'Toole (writing on the Beef Tribunal) was revealing details of how those who were responsible for a company which was found to have engaged in large scale tax evasion and other malpractice, were being dined, wined, and advised at enormous expense to the taxpayer during the course of the tribunal set up to enquire into their activities. Equality my eye. - Yours, etc.,
Silchester Park,
Glenageary,
Co Dublin.