Madam, - The contrast between Ireland and Britain in the treatment of politicians who have engaged in questionable financial dealings could not be more stark.
In Britain Peter Hain, the pensions secretary, accepted money from some dubious sources and failed to make a full and timely disclosure to the Electoral Commission. There was never any suggestion that the money was used for anything other than an electoral campaign. Some of his own colleagues criticise him, the case is referred by the Electoral Commission to the police, and he resigns.
In Ireland, meanwhile, the Taoiseach admits to accepting money for his personal use from various people, some of whom he does not know. His colleagues rally round in defence of him, one accuses his critics of "treason", and that's it.
There is something very wrong here. - Yours, etc,
BRENDAN McMAHON, Elmwood, Naas, Co Kildare.
Madam, - The controversy over donations leading to the resignation of Peter Hain from the British government arose in the media only within the past couple of weeks. Yet he has done the honourable thing and resigned in a very short space of time and British taxpayers will be saved millions by not having to have a tribunal investigate this matter. Might I suggest that Irish politicians should learn something from their British counterparts? - Yours, etc,
BRIAN DALY, Killiney, Co Dublin.