Madam, - In a week which saw Mr Martin Cullen, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, admit that up to €50 million had been spent on the controversial move to electronic voting, and the publication by RTÉ of the money paid to its top presenters - which included €600,000 to Mr Gerry Ryan, who hosts a tabloid and, at times, vulgar radio show - an abuse victim, Mr Tom Sweeny, had to starve himself almost to death outside Leinster House to call attention to his treatment by the Residential Institutions Redress Board.
What a cheap, superficial, tacky and smug little republic we have become. - Yours, etc.,
TOM COOPER, Delaford Lawn, Knocklyon, Dublin 16.