Madam, - Encouraged by Minister Martin's remarkable escape from political oblivion, and determined to learn from his extraordinary capacity for delegating responsibility, I now intend to relaunch my hitherto stalled career in the Civil Service. For far too long, my abilities have not received due recognition from successive governments and Ministers.
As I now set out on the long trek upwards to the most senior grades in the Civil Service, I feel it incumbent upon me to give some advice to all the Ministers and Ministers of State whose paths may cross mine over the coming years. Try to dump the consequences of an unresolved problem on my desk and I will have a simple response for you: "I had to leave the meeting early/I arrived late for the meeting. How would I have known anything about it?"
That piece of advice can, if necessary, be made available in writing. - Yours, etc.,
PAUL GULLY, St Lawrence's Road, Clontarf, Dublin 3.