Sir, – One becomes a member of Dáil Éireann by contesting an election for that position. Nobody appoints themselves or is appointed by others as a TD to represent their area.
We live in a democracy, thankfully, and it is open to any citizen, regardless of occupation, to put their name before the people to serve as a public representative. This requires a little courage and much hard work. For rural TDs representing sparsely populated areas along the western seaboard, remote from Dublin, the amount of travel alone involved must be exhausting.
If teachers are over-represented in Dáil Éireann, it is hardly the fault of the teachers. It may in fact demonstrate a penchant for hard work among this cohort. – Yours, etc,
PJ McDERMOTT,
The welcome I received from Jennifer Johnston is something I will never forget
Oscars 2026: Will Hamnet with Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley get a best picture nomination?
‘My son is getting married in the summer, and the likelihood is that I’m going to be able to see that'
Ireland ‘actively hindering its citizens from building wealth and securing their future’
Westport,
Co Mayo.
Sir, – Further to your article “‘Would you employ a teacher to run the Central Bank?’: Readers deeply divided on Michael O’Leary’s remarks” (News, November 11th), Philip Lane, Patrick Honohan, Mario Draghi, Mervyn King, Janet Yellen and Ben Bernanke are a few examples. – Yours, etc,
ÉAMONN CONLON,
Shankill,
Dublin 18.
