Madam, – I was appalled by Deputy Paul Gogarty’s use of foul language in our national parliament on Friday, as I am sure many Green party supporters were (Front page, December 12th).
His moment of weakness illustrates perfectly how a reputation (be it in the sports, business, music or political spheres) takes years to build but only seconds to demolish. The most amusing aspect of the whole fiasco is the fact that Deputy Gogarty is the chairman of the Education Science Committee in the Oireachtas.
Surely it behoves Mr Gogarty to resign as chairman following a display of rudeness which would not be tolerated by a primary school teacher from a slightly neurotic pupil? His constituents must look in awe and disbelief at his own website profile, which describes his constituency office as having “a reputation for an effective and discrete response to issues of concern”.
One of these unfortunate citizens should tell him bluntly that screaming obscenities into a fellow TD’s face is neither effective nor discrete, but it will most certainly be “an issue of some concern” for them come election time. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Blue language directed at a Pinko by a Green in a black mood – has the Rainbow Coalition returned to the Dáil in time for Christmas – a (Mary) White one, of course? – Yours, etc,