Sir, - Who pays for Ms Celia Larkin's expenses when she accompanies the Taoiseach abroad on official visits? Is it the taxpayer? Ms Larkin is currently involved full-time in the pursuit of her own business career so she cannot be accompanying the Taoiseach in any job-related capacity. The media have reported on Ms Larkin's accompanying the Taoiseach abroad on numerous occasions and, most recently, she was in South Africa with the Taoiseach as his "partner" on such a visit.
Although I am a liberal-minded person, I thoroughly object to the Taoiseach bringing Ms Larkin with him on official visits abroad. Mr Ahern has chosen to remain married to another woman. The fact that he co-habits with Ms Larkin is his own private business. But that is what it should remain - his private business. I do not consider that Mr Ahern, in his capacity as Taoiseach, has the right to bring Ms Larkin with him as his "partner" on official visits.
It is the world-wide custom that a spouse is accorded official recognition in accompanying a country's political leader on official visits to other countries. In my view it is a serious breach of such custom and etiquette for our Taoiseach to bring Ms Larkin with him as his "partner". I would even suggest that certain countries, because of their customs, would consider it offensive to be obliged to give a person they would consider a mistress or a concubine the status of a spouse or legitimate partner.
I think the Taoiseach has demonstrated poor taste and bad judgment in this matter, given his continuing marital status. He should keep his personal affairs out of official business. Considering, also, how we have been regaled in the recent past by the stories of an ex-mistress of a former Taoiseach, it would indeed be the last straw were we to discover that the hard-pressed taxpayer is having to fork out for Ms Larkin's foreign jaunts, - Yours, etc.,
Alison Brennan, Bray, Co Wicklow.