Madam, - The heroism of the lorry driver who brought a safe end to Dr Jim McDaid's drunken escapade deserves the highest public acknowledgement by the State.
By the way, if Dr McDaid's apology included any element of a "thank you" to our hero, it failed to come across. - Yours, etc,
ANNE CAHILL, Laurel Park, Clondalkin, Dublin 22.
Madam, - I was incensed to hear that yet another TD has been apprehended by gardaí for drink. Jim McDaid, a former junior transport minister, was so inebriated as to be driving the wrong way up a dual-carriageway.
The carnage that could have occurred from this reckless and stupid act hardly bears thinking about.
What contempt do some TDs have for the laws they make that they think they can break them with such impunity? A hamfisted apology, muttering that this "will now be a matter for the gardaí to dealt with", simply is not good enough.
The Taoiseach's handling of the G.V. Wright drink driving incident 18 months ago has obviously not sent the right message to his colleagues so he must show some backbone and leadership and immediately dismiss Mr McDaid from the Fianna Fáil party. Anything less would be seen to condone such illegal behaviour and continue to foster a culture that turns a a blind eye to such things. - Yours, etc,
KEVIN O'DONNELL, Coolock, Dublin 5.
Madam, - Jim McDaid neglected to apologies to the potential victims of his lapse of behaviour. - Yours, etc,
ALAN WARREN, O'Donnell Gardens, Glasthule, Co Dublin.
Madam, - I hope that the next time any of my friends offer me a lift in their helicopter to a jamboree somewhere, they make sure to drop me straight home afterwards. - Yours, etc,
ARTHUR DUNNE, Blackrock, Co Dublin.