Sir - I wonder if the terms of reference for one of our tribunals of inquiry might be extended to allow an examination of the recent revelations that a public representative has been granted over £40,000 in expenses (part of which is to provide the services of two secretaries), while remaining anonymous, and of a political system which has reached a unanimous agreement to protect such anonymity.
I was shocked to read that there was all-party agreement to rush through a piece of legislation, should this prove necessary, to ensure that the names of such public representatives would not become known to the public. So much for the Great God OTA (openness, transparency, accountability)! At the same time, the primary centres of education for children are refused adequate funding to provide full-time secretarial and caretaking staff. In case I am called to give evidence to a tribuna, I wish to declare a slight bias, as I am a member of a primary school board of management, for which I am happy to receive no expenses. - Yours, etc.
Fr Declan Moriarty, c.c., Parish of Firhouse, Dublin 24.