Madam, - Mr Seamus Brennan used to be Minister for Transport, responsible for cars, planes, Luas, etc. Now he is Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs, responsible merely for us.
All media reports recognise this as demotion. Does anyone question this evaluation? - Yours, etc.,
MÁIRE MULLARNEY, Main Street, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14.
Madam, - Mary Coughlan's appointment as Minister for Agriculture is regarded as a promotion.
It is sad, if no longer surprising, that in a country where the importance of the family is emphasised in the Constitution, and parroted ad nauseam by various interest groups as and when required, the Department of Social and Family Affairs is regarded as the lowest rung on the Cabinet ladder.
This seems even more pathetic given the vast bog of social problems in which Ireland is mired: uncontrolled binge-boozing, drug abuse, racism and obesity. - Yours, etc.,
CATHERINE KELLY, Goatstown, Dublin 14.