A chara, - The recent election of Proinsias De Rossa as a Member of the European Parliament for the Dublin Constituency marks a return of the practice of double-jobbing, by which people are simultaneously members of both Dail Eireann and the European Parliament and are drawing two salaries.
When he held the position of President of The Workers' Party, Mr De Rossa came under considerable pressure from myself and other party members to resign one or other of his seats as his doublejobbing was, frankly, an embarrassment to party members. He eventually was left with no option but to step down. Later he precipitated an attempt to destroy the Workers' Party. Now that he is comfortably bedded in the Labour Party, where he holds the honorary, grandiose, but powerless position of "President", he is back to his old double-jobbing habits.
Mr De Rossa can now look forward to earning two grossly inflated salaries and a pension as a former Minister for Social Welfare. Remember, he was the Minister who gave 2.5 per cent to the unemployed and poor in a most shameful Budget. Can the people of Dublin at least expect that Mr De Rossa will not continue to try and hold two well-paid jobs - or has he any conscience at all? - Is mise,
Sean O Cionnaith, Thomas MacDonagh Tower, Ballymun, Dublin 9.