Madam, – With local and European elections forthcoming, what better time to reflect on the state of Irish politics. For far too long the policy of families “passing on” their seats to sons, daughters, nephews and nieces has been allowed to continue, encouraged by the bovine willingness of the Irish electorate to accommodate such a state of affairs.
Why bother with such trifling matters as elections at all when we seem happy to continue under this hereditary system of governance? By my count 41 of the current 166 members of the Dáil – that’s almost a quarter, and includes our Taoiseach – have benefited from family connections to reach their exalted positions.
For as long as running a democracy is treated in the same manner as running the family butcher’s shop it is hard to be too optimistic about our position as a free and thriving republic. – Yours, etc,