A chara, – Finally some balance in an Irish Times opinion piece. Stephen Collins ("Vilifying State institutions well shy of informed debate", August 10th) should be required reading for all those other commentators who see nothing but conspiracy, failure and venality in our political system.
Dissenting voices are essential, but the unremitting negativity of many, including a number of your regular contributors, is corrosive and destructive. One would love to live in their nirvana of absolute blessedness on this planet. We are only human, however, and it is possible that a destructive cycle of protest has been avoided because the great majority of Irish people has a more nuanced view of life as lived in this country. – Is mise,
NOEL MANNION,
St Fintan’s Crescent,
Sutton, Dublin 13.