Sir, - Please allow me to commend the letter of Ald John Gilligan (February 25th) on the debacle over payments to politicians. Mr Gilligan hits the nail on the head when it comes to the "banana republic" we live in.
With all the current and previous shenanigans, it is now apparent that we no longer live in a democracy. Corruption is endemic in Irish financial and political life. I no longer have any confidence in the system I live under, nor do many people who once trusted our public representatives and financial institutions.
With the loss of this trust the populace of this country must now seek to change the system as a whole. Perhaps one day we may have a just and equal society, but until that day arrives we will have to weed out the venality and prosecute injustice.
There is hope for the future when a public representative such as Mr Gilligan expresses his belief in such a strong way. - Yours, etc., Gavin Sheridan,
Owenabue Heights,
Carrigaline,
Co Cork.