Sir, - Adi Roche has achieved far more in six or seven years than most politicians achieve in a lengthy Dail career. True, probably she has not attended as many funerals as some politicians and she is not a lawyer. Not being a "professional" politician inevitably means that she has to think for herself, rather than being told what line to follow by a party whip. And she has demonstrated that she has a remarkable ability to work outside existing political structures.
Obviously this means that she could not possibly work within them. Only those whose families have been in politics for generations, and who have never lived or worked in the mundane world outside of Dail Eireann, can operate the complicated levers of power (though the President has no power). Another problem with Adi Roche is that she smacks of authenticity and commitment and has not developed a professional mask to disguise her real feelings.
Her work with the victims of a man-made disaster in a forgotten part of the world is particularly worrying. It shows that she is not only concerned with Ireland or the EU but has an interest in global matters.
Recently we have been informed that people have lost faith in politicians and lawyers, due to financial scandals, etc. But the reaction to Adi Roche's candidacy seems to suggest that the Irish electorate would be barking mad to trust an ordinary person.
Hell, let's be sensible and put a lawyer, professional politician or singer in the park. - Yours, etc.,
Nicholas Street, Cork.