Madam, - Emmet Stagg TD (January 30th) complains that I failed to apportion blame to the current government for the part-time nature of the Dáil.
My intention was simply to point out the facts, with which he agrees, leaving it to others to reason why. But as he mentions blame, I must respectfully suggest that, unlike the number of Dáil sitting days, there is plenty to go around.
This absurd situation has arisen over many years, involving many governments of all the main political parties, including his. None of these governments paid anything more than lip service to Dáil reform. The opposition parties engage in token outrage at the length of their holidays only on rare occasions. Their annual criticism of the long summer recess is, appropriately, as much a part of that season as the call of the cuckoo.
If they are sincere, perhaps they might refuse a portion of their salaries in protest. Or could they be, like St Augustine, praying to the Taoiseach to make them perfect, just not yet. - Yours, etc,
KIERAN PHILLIPS,
Ashton Park,
Monkstown,
Co Dublin.