Anybody but Michael D... and the six reasons why
I WILL not be voting for President Higgins in the Presidential election for the following reasons.
1) He should honour his word not to stand for a second term.
2) At 76 he is far too old to seek a second term.
3) As a former TD and minister he is in receipt of multiple pensions.
4) Using the executive jet to travel the World and staying in posh hotels at €3,000 a night is costing the taxpayer a fortune, also to use the Learjet to fly to Belfast when he had a car and a driver at his disposal was a sinful waste of taxpayers’ money.
5) He praised communist dictator Fidel Castro, describing him as a giant among political leaders.
6) I believe he is very selfish to seek a second term. Do these politicians ever have enough?
Only for Sinn Féin and RTÉ, Seán Gallagher would have won the last presidential election. President Higgins should be grateful for being president for seven years and look forward to another pension. Noel Peers, Graignamanagh, Kilkenny …For someone like Michael D Higgins who comes from a socialist background, it is difficult to justify €3,000-a-night hotel expenses or taking the Learjet to Belfast when there is a perfectly fine motorway there.
There does seem to be huge extravagance associated with the office of the President. Leaving aside the fund of over €300,000 a year the President has at his disposal, it was reported during the week that the Government has spent almost €200,000 on two new BMWs for his use.
President Higgins’s defence is that he has no control over this lavish spending, they are essentially the trappings that come with the office.
However, the trappings that come with being Pope didn’t stop Pope Francis moving into frugal accommodation in the Vatican after his election as opposed to the luxury apartment his predecessors used. The Pope also insists in being chauffered in basic model cars on foreign trips, such as his use of a Skoda here in Ireland recently.
Tommy Roddy, Galway.
Casey’s disgrace
THE controversy about Peter Casey’s disgraceful remarks on Travellers has highlighted an unfortunate trend in Irish life: the relentless demonisation of the Travelling community in the press and in public debate.
The press and public seem to ignore the more positive aspects of Traveller culture, of which I’m sure there are many.
John O’Sullivan, Carrigaline, Co. Cork.
Dangerous words
LEO VARADKAR legitimises the IRA/UVF murderers by saying Brexit will cause the same dangers if the EU introduces a hard border, thereby giving open understanding for violence erupting if he does not get his way. This is the most dangerous thing said by a Taoiseach in 30 years.
Britain could be blamed if his ‘warning’ is taken seriously, yet it is the EU tyranny that is likely to turn our island into a convenient warzone, not Britain.
Robert Sullivan, Bantry, Co. Cork.
Plaza is no loss
LEO VARADKAR tweeted that he is disappointed that An Bord Pleanála has refused a plaza for College Green.
Leo is appearing more concerned with side distractions than he is with real politics.
A plaza concept on the green is only frivolity in the greater scheme of things and would primarily become a meetingplace for rainbow flags and #MeToo types, faffing about and hugs and kisses. Robert Sullivan, Bantry, Co. Cork.
The real villains
The recently announced increased VAT rate for some sectors of the tourism industry from 9% to 13.5% has led to calls for the measure to be scrapped amid claims that jobs would be put at risk. I believe the biggest threat to the hospitality industry comes from within.
In 2016 it was confirmed that Bruce Springsteen would play two concerts at Croke Park. As soon as the dates of the concerts were confirmed some hotels doubled and even tripled their prices for the relevant dates.
Some hotels in Dublin and beyond, not surprisingly, reported a surge in bookings as fans from around Europe, the USA and Ireland sought a room for their stay in Dublin.
One Dublin city centre hotel reputedly charged €630 a night for a room that normally charged €280 a night. This was blatant exploitation and profiteering.
I suggest that the fleecing of visitors by mercenary hoteliers is a greater danger to jobs in the tourism sector than the increase in the VAT rate. Tom Cooper, Templeogue, Dublin 6w.