Sir, – Having read an article on some citizens lodging a complaint against various Anglo Irish Bank members (“Complaint filed with gardaí over Anglo executives”, Breaking News, June 28th), I presented myself at my local Garda station to do likewise.
I was perturbed to be asked if I was acting on behalf of any grouping. I acted in my capacity as a citizen who retains a sense of fair play and acted on behalf of those now in penury due to certain people’s alleged actions. I duly lodged my complaint and now await the outcome.
The time has passed to expect any action by politicians who were members of the legislature during the so-called boom years and indeed our current Taoiseach who called for a complete scrapping of the stamp duty on house sales in the budget debate of 2006.
We are now facing a crisis of such importance that I would advocate asking that either our former colonial masters in London or the European Union now step in and take over the day-to-day running of the country.
We have proven ourselves incapable of governing ourselves and to prevent our children suffering a similar fate, this action is required. You would not see a state like ours outside of Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe. The main political parties have proven themselves true descendants of the gombeen man so beloved of Punch magazine in the 19th century. – Yours, etc,
DEREK REID,
Beechpark Court,
Coolock,
Dublin 5.
Sir, – Liam Meade (July 2nd), in his lauding of the comments of Michael D Higgins, writes: “I fear we do not fully understand that a large dollop of this greed and entitlement mentality has seeped into the pores of our society.”
Is this the same “greed and entitlement mentality” that allows our President’s special advisers to consistently breach the state salary cap? Surely when asked to serve him he would have insisted on respect for this salary cap?
Giving good example in his own house would carry more moral authority than hollow words. – Yours, etc,
TOM O’GRADY,
Ballybeggan,
Tralee,
Co Kerry.
Sir, – The recently released tapes of conversations between Anglo Irish Bank executives around the time of the bank guarantee provides useful information on what was going on in arguably the most problematic of the distressed banks.
It has also to be remembered that, at the time, the banks in general were less than forthcoming with the authorities, regarding the real state of their balance sheets.
Considering how much it has cost the State and its citizens to rescue the banks, the damage done to the national reputation, and to avoid any repetition in the future, should not the financial regulator and the Department of Finance now have full powers to monitor the voice and data communications (including personal land lines, mobile phone and emails accounts) of senior staff in banks and other financial institutions, where there is evidence that these institutions are not providing all necessary information? – Yours, etc,
ROBERT HALLIGAN,
The Friary,
Castledermot,
Co Kildare.