Madam, – Much as I appreciated Frank McNally’s 36 reasons to be cheerful (An Irishman’s Diary, October 7th) they did not lift me from the slough of despond in which I was dunked. On First Looking Into Vincent Browne’s Arithmetic on October 6th, and on Second, Third and Fourth time looking into same.
I quote: “In the gravest crisis to afflict the State since the Civil War, our national parliament has no role to play, 141 of our 166 elected representatives have no function. They stand by as mere onlookers, while the remaining 15 decide in secret the fate of the country.” And again, “Most of these 15 . . .” and “A majority of these 15” and “And the other 141 TDs”. Perhaps I should console myself that Mr Browne is not Minister for Finance. – Yours, etc,