Why is Brendan so surprised by this?

Sir — What has happened to Brendan O’Connor who gives us the weekly humorous and entertaining front-page pieces?

He has gone all dismayed with the shock of discovering that our government leader and his senior ministers have been bulls***ing us all along (Sunday Independent, November 25).

What a discovery after seven years of total neglect by Government of its primary functions — provision of shelter, food, healthcare and safety of body and possessions of its citizens.

Brendan is annoyed at the Government’s view of fathers. He allies with John Walters in advocating for the true role of fathers. He writes: “The evidence shows that when fathers take a more significant and meaningful share in parenting of their children, the individual family benefits, and so does society” — an earth-shattering discovery, as he might say himself.

Brendan also acknowledges the joint and complementary role of the father and mother. He says: “Working fathers in those early days… cram in work and everything else to support the primary carer and the new baby.” But “we all know there is something broken here, when parents are queuing outside the creche at seven in the morning to drop the kids off, and back in the evening, both parent and child exhausted”.

He adds: “We know that we and they are missing out on precious time, and that it will be all gone in the blink of an eye.”

The government solution is a First5 launch with colourful photo op. But I think Brendan might put a spanner in the works of its obsession with liberal ideology. Perhaps then urgent matters for society will be addressed — sounds familiar.

Sean Farrell, Manorhamilton

Co Leitrim