Sir, - Mr Gay Mitchell's remarks in the Dail on September 12th enrage me. I say directly to Mr Mitchell: How dare you assign part of the blame for the failure to uncover Charles Haughey's means to the Irish people? It may surprise Mr Mitchell that although "the majority of people in the State knew that Mr Haughey was not funding himself from his salary as a public representative" the matter could not be proven. Indeed, it took a public inquiry under a High Court judge to expose the scandal. I find his comments both offensive and insulting. Mr Mitchell refers to farmers, grocers and barristers, all of whom are responsible for their own tax affairs. Nowhere does he mention PAYE workers (who comprise a larger proportion of the population than those mentioned by Mr Mitchell). "They did not expect more from the politicians because that is how they live life themselves," Well, Mr Mitchell, that is not how this voter lives, and I do expect more from the people I elect to public office, because it is large the PAYE worker who pays your salary as a TD and Mr Haughey's ministerial pensions. - ail collegues failed to address, then I think it is he who should be blamed, held accountable and if necessary rebuked. Yours etc.,
Trinity College, Dublin 2.