Sir, - Labour leader Ruari Quinn is to be applauded for his efforts to promote a draft code of conduct for Oireachtas members, particularly in the light of recent events, in order to restore public confidence in the integrity of individual members and to establish an agreed set of standards to which all politicians should aspire.
Mr Quinn is seeking to create a situation whereby "TDs will perform their official duties and arrange their private affairs in a manner that will bear the closest, legitimate scrutiny". He observes, further, that "there are members who" in his view, "deliberately and systematically sought to abuse the privileges that attached to membership of the House". All of which, of course, represents a most praiseworthy enterprise.
But, that said, the least we should expect from Ruari Quinn and his immediate and most voluble political acolytes is that they will take some time out from berating members of other parties for their transgressions and, instead, seek out and discipline those transgressors who may, perhaps, exist within their own Labour Party ranks. - Your, etc.,
Pat Billings, Shankill, Co Dublin.