‘Proof that our politicians really are a greedy bunch’
THE pure greed shown by a number of our TDs ´knows no bounds. While the country, and indeed the world, is going through a tremendous crisis and fear is rampant, what do they do?
They look for extra allowances to work from home.
While hundreds of thousands of citizens are off work we have a number of lucky ones who should appreciate the fact that they are able to work from home. Taking into account the ridiculous wages and expenses these TDs take home they should consider themselves lucky to have a job.
If they cannot go to Dáil Éireann they should be docked travel expenses and attendance allowances but, as sure as Monday follows Sunday, they will still apply for it and, as sure as Tuesday follows Monday, they will get it. Get a life, TDs!
Seamus Broderick, Cobh, Co. Cork.
Insult to de Valera
FIANNA FáIL career politicians are sitting idly by on the hallowed benches of Dáil Éireann witnessing the continued demise of their party!
Some of the men and women who took part in the 1916 Rising, such as Eamon de Valera, became founding members of Fianna Fáil. They completed their journey from revolutionaries to statesmen and stateswomen, and created a national movement that was the envy of all other political parties.
Down the years, Fianna Fáil
TDs did not aspire to the philosophy of the founding fathers, so began the decline of the party that continues to this present day.
After supporting Fine Gael for four years, history is in the making with the leader of Fianna Fáil entering coalition with Fine Gael and expecting different results. It appears this decision is made by a few, so the debate is over before it begins. On January 23, Micheál Martin ruled out coalition with Fine Gael. There was a time in politics when your word was your bond.
Pat O’Callaghan,
Trump’s who’s WHO
CONGRATULATIONS President Trump. At last a world leader who isn’t afraid to stand up the monolith that is the World Health Organization (WHO).
One of the most troubling aspects of the coverage of the Covid-19 crisis has been a rather sycophantic attitude towards the WHO and its spokesmen. In fairness the Mail has raised some troubling questions in this regard.
All large, human-led organisations, secular and religious, are prone to corruption. The downside of free will.
What we do know is that the WHO has long had an overly cosy relationship with the Chinese government. The latter has lied through its teeth from the outset of the virus, yet far from being subject to proper scrutiny/ criticism by the WHO, it has been the subject of fawning praise.
In interview after interview the WHO and its spokespersons are treated with undue deference and frequently quoted with uncritical approval.
Hopefully President Trump’s intervention will lead to a proper critique of the WHO and some of its questionable policies and connections.
Eric Conway, by email.
EVERY time Donald Trump appears on TV, he makes me feel very stupid for the following reason: I always believe when he makes a statement from the White House it’s the most ridiculous he can ever make.
However, he proves me wrong time and time again.
Recently he withdrew support for the WHO on the grounds it was a fake establishment. Hopefully, he will soon be replaced by Joe Biden.
Tony Moriarty,
Follow UK’s lead
THE Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP) is offering its full support to the Government in addressing the inevitable negative psychological impact of the Covid-19 outbreak.
Counselling and psychotherapy will have a critical role to play in the longer-term recovery of the country and in helping the nation return to normality.
The UK government has announced a £5m grant for leading mental health charities to fund additional services for people struggling during this time.
The IACP calls on the Government as a first step to follow the example set by the UK and allocate a specific fund to support mental wellbeing and address the psychological toll that Covid-19 has taken and will continue to take on the nation.
Lisa Molloy, CEO, IACP, Dublin.
HERE’S a very appropriate analogy: ‘The curve is flattening; we can start lifting restrictions now’ equals ‘The parachute has slowed our rate of decent; we can take it off now.’
Kevin Devitte, Westport, Co. Mayo.