Convicted Healy-Rae too close to workings of Dáil
JACKIE Healy-Rae and his brother Kevin have been convicted of assault and causing harm to an English tourist. Fortunately for them, their prison sentences have been suspended.
Jackie Healy-Rae is also employed (at taxpayers’ expense, of course) as a parliamentary assistant to his father Michael Healy-Rae TD, with all the security clearances and accesses that such a post confers.
Is it correct that a convicted violent criminal should have such high-level access to the country’s parliament?
John O’Sullivan, Carrigaline, Co. Cork
FAI’s omnishambles
THE FAI is in the red to the tune of €55m, but still able to give
John Delaney a golden handshake worth €462,000 including a pension payment. When asked about Delaney’s ‘gift’, Donal Conway, FAI president and a member of the board, said he did not know about Delaney’s pay-off. It was some other members of the board who agreed to the payment.
You could not make it up
J McCourt, Dundalk, Co. Louth. …The financial meltdown at the publicly-funded FAI is a disgrace and evidence of gross mismanagement. Minister Shane Ross is dead right to insist on a complete clearout of the old guard. The FAI will probably end up forcing the taxpayer to bail them out of a €55m hole they hid from the government and public for far too long — because the cheque gravy train from the taxpayer kept on coming. It’s time to blow the final whistle on the FAI and its directors.
Maurice Fitzgerald, Shanbally, Co. Cork.
Phelan’s rethink?
THE sad apostasy of Vicky Phelan (December 1) is yet another sign of a country that has lost all sense of reason. This, together with her call for euthanasia, demonstrates nothing but the bleakness of despair.
When the Venerable Mario Acutis died in 2006 from blood cancer at the age of 15, he offered his suffering up for the Church and for souls.
A miracle attributed to his intercession is now being theologically examined after the medical and scientific bureau declared it outside the realms of medical science. If approved it would see this teenager declared blessed, as early as next year.
No despair there, only acceptance and confidence in divine providence. Surely such an example must give Vicky Phelan a means to examine her views? Fr John McCallion M.Phil c.c., Coalisland, Co Tyrone.
Take a bike, Shane!
DOES Shane Ross’s brilliance know no bounds. Firstly here is the genius who can charge electric cars from a power point that is connected to thin air,
(some trick), and this from a person, who some time ago claimed never to have held a driving licence nor to have ever driven a car.
That aside he will continue to pontificate how we drivers should use the road. His latest ‘gem’ now proposes to have us road-tax payers charged for ‘dangerous passing of cyclists’.
My question now is, will this law apply when the cyclists are breaking red lights; when they are ignoring pedestrians on crossings; when they are zigzagging in and out of traffic; when they are unlit and wearing non-reflective clothing; or when they are drunk or drugged or generally breaking all rules of the road, as they often do?
John K Kenny, Dublin 5.
I’m beaming Blue
THE great Jim Gavin is standing down from managing the Dubs after leading the Boys in Blue to an unprecedented, historic five in a row All-Ireland wins.
Jim and his outstanding panel of players have brought untold joy and ecstasy to all true blue Dubs. His team are a joy to watch and Jim has always proved an exceptional manager, motivator an mentor.
I certainly do not have the words and I doubt if they even exist to convey what Jim Gavin’s Dublin team has meant to the fans. They have been a joy to watch in Croker, they are outstanding role models both on and off the field; their altruism and charity work has benefited numerous community projects and worthwhile charities, all done quietly and without fanfare.
It is heartening to see the true essence of great Dublin character alive and well and embodied in Jim Gavin and his Dublin team.
Slán agus beannacht. Up the Dubs!
William Fitzpatrick, Tallaght, Dublin 24.
Murphy’s flaw
DÚN Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council has taken out a 25-year lease on a block of 87 luxury apartments for social housing at Herbert Hill, Dundrum. and is expecting to pay €2,000 to €3,000 per month for each apartment.
Each of these apartments had a sale price of €632,000 upwards.
Is there any other country in the EU that rents out apartments costing on average €0.75m per unit as social housing?
Why has the housing Minister Murphy not resigned over this squandering of public money?
Denis Dennehy, Dublin.