Madam, - The recent outbursts of Proinsias De Rossa highlight that the cynicism of the Labour Party knows no bounds. It is clear from his petty criticisms of Charlie McCreevy that there is no stunt too low for the Labour Party to pull in pursuit of their narrow political agenda.
Recently in the European Parliament (July 21st) and again on national radio, Mr De Rossa sought to denigrate Ireland's nominee for European Commissioner. It is regrettable that the Labour Party's most senior representative in the European Parliament should put domestic political point-scoring above the national interest.
As a keen observer of European affairs, Mr De Rossa will know that there is a real possibility of Mr McCreevy receiving a top portfolio.
Despite the fact that this would be in Ireland's interests as well as that of the entire European Union, Mr De Rossa chose to launch into a vitriolic attack, claiming that Mr McCreevy was an inappropriate appointment.
As a long-standing MEP, Mr De Rossa is well aware that there is a precedent in Irish politics that when an Irish citizen from whatever party is in line for a top European job, the patriotic and sound approach is to row in behind this person and support the Irish nominee.
When this was put to Mr De Rossa yesterday morning, he responded by saying that "patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel."
This in itself surely says something about the political motivation and warped ideology of the former president of the Labour Party.
Mr De Rossa's remarks are as unworthy as they are contrary to the national interest.
In particular, I want to take issue with Mr De Rossa's remarks that Charlie McCreevy's modus operandi has been to give the poor "a kick in the arse".
It is tempting to suggest that this is surely a case of Mr De Rossa talking through this very orifice. It is an indisputable fact that Mr McCreevy has done more to tackle poverty than any other Minister for Finance.
Mr McCreevy is the Minister who introduced the minimum wage, he is the Minister who provided the resources for the largest series of social welfare payments ever and he is the Minister who generated pro-work policies which have resulted in 380,000 new jobs, lifting thousands of Irish families out of poverty.
Mr McCreevy's record stands in marked contrast to the miserly £1.50 that Proinsias De Rossa provided to pensioners when he was a Minister. Mr De Rossa should bear this fact in mind the next time he sets out to distort Charlie McCreevy's record.
Others might argue that it would be foolish to expect any better from a member of a party whose TDs are running around like demented bumblebees looking for the next protest at which they can help carry a student placard.
In as much as some people will never learn, there are still some more who will never grow up. - Yours, etc.,
JOHN O'DONOGHUE, TD, Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Kildare Street, Dublin 2.