English’s blunder

I want to believe junior housing minister Damien English is just stupid, insensitive and arrogant. I wish to be charitable to him.

His remarks during the week voicing his concern about the ‘damage to our international reputation caused by talking about homelessness’ were concerning. His claim that ‘we are not the worst’ is also a cause for alarm. He then asked charities to work together as if it is their fault.

What he failed to observe is that we should not be relying on charities to help the homeless. That is his job!

Our international reputation! If English is not stupid, insensitive and arrogant then there is something far more sinister at work. The care for our most vulnerable people should be our first priority, long before our international reputation.

His language is that of a smalltown sanctimonious beggar on horseback. The Island of Opportunity indeed!

Gerard Corrigan, Castletroy, Limerick.