BRIAN QUIGLEY,
Sir, - Last Wednesday evening the viewing public were treated to a somewhat hesitant masterclass in Jesuitical equivocation. This was given by the Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell, who, in an interview with Brian Dobson on RTÉ, was less than convincing in arguing that he and his colleagues in the Progressive Democrats were ignorant of the true state of the public finances when entering into another unholy coalition with Fiánna Fáil.
Earlier, on the same network, we were treated to the déja vu experience of Mary Harney bleating out the same old platitudes about reassurances from Mr Ahern, etc., etc., ad nauseam.
Do the Progressive Democrats need remedial intervention? Have they, in fact, become the Repressive Democrats? Surely Ms Harney must realise at this stage that for she and her party to remain morally solvent they must sever all connections with their corrupt, anachronistic, monolithic partner.
One does not have to be a student of Shakespeare to realise that Ray Burke, like Banquo, has not yet left the party - pun intended. More corpses are forthcoming.
In an open, functioning democracy, Mr Ahern would by now have sacked his arrogant and incompetent Finance Minister for not falling on his own sword. Mr Ahern would then resign and follow Mr McCreevy into the political wilderness.
However, these would be the actions of honourable men and we are living, unfortunately, in modern Ireland, not Utopia. It is now up to Enda Kenny to show his mettle. Just before the opening of the Dáil, he has been given a loaded howitzer, a strategic advantage and an open target. These are not times for compromise. His thoughts must be lethal, his aim true. - Yours, etc.,
BRIAN QUIGLEY, Newcourt, Swords, Co Dublin.