Sir, - Despite all the discussion concerning political donations, and the possible public funding of political parties, nobody seems to be asking questions about where all this money goes.
Trying to control the supply side (funding) while ignoring the demand side (spending) avoids at least part of the issue. And it doesn't address the question of what an appropriate level of public funding might be.
Should taxpayer funds be used to pay for private opinion polls? Should taxpayer funds be used to pay for advisers and strategists? Perhaps political parties should be required to make more use of voluntary work, rather than cash, which might make them more reliant on "ordinary people" than those with money. - Yours, etc.,
Aengus Lawlor, Dundrum, Dublin 14.