Madam, - The revelation that Brian Cowen changed the pension legislation for the sole benefit of one former Fianna Fáil minister, on top of the Government awarding itself an excessive and undeserved pay rise, will come as no surprise. It's what Fianna Fáil does and the reason Fianna Fáil does it is because the next opinion poll, which takes all this into account, will still show Fianna Fáil on 40 per cent.
But what is revealing is the reaction of Fine Gael. Not a word from its leader about how when he becomes taoiseach he will be cutting the salaries of all government ministers and completely reviewing the manner in which politicians are paid expenses and that they can fully expect to be earning less and claiming less expenses and having to provide receipts. The latest revelation about a dig-out for a former Fianna Fáil minister elicits the pathetic response from Fine Gael's Richard Bruton that as Fine Gael was not presented with the full facts and that someone fell foul of a rule, then it would be hypocritical to complain about it now!
So can all the other people who, for whatever reason, have missed deadlines to apply for all sorts of benefits they were legally entitled to now expect the Minister for Finance to open a loophole for them? No, I didn't think so but then again it was a politician so it's no wonder they all stick together.
There was a time when people entered politics for reasons of public service, not to benefit financially, but it seems Fianna Fáil, and now Fine Gael, have done their best to strangle any notion of entering public service to help others rather than helping yourselves.
Shame on Fine Gael. - Yours, etc,
DESMOND FITZGERALD, Wharf Lane, London.
