High time we introduced a licence to practise politics
IT’S time for politicians to stop regulating themselves.
Most professionals – doctors, solicitors, architects, etc – are members of a recognised professional body or society.
A solicitor is required to be a member in good standing of the Law Society of Ireland. A GP is required to be a member of the Irish College of General Practitioners. An architect is expected to be a member of The Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland. It’s my contention that we now need a professional body to regulate politicians. I would like to see it given the imprimatur of the State to grant licences to all politicians to practise their trade.
This licence would be undergirded by a thorough background check of all politicians. The body would then be able to decide on ethical standards and duties expected of politicians. It would issue a yearly licence to hold public office and could issue sanctions, up to and including the withdrawal of a politician’s licence for serious transgressions.
John O’Brien, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary.
Sinn Féin hilarity
SINN Féin giving lectures on ethics and standards in politics is hilarious and should feature on the party’s next election posters. Why shouldn’t there be mirth on their particular ballot box bid in the midst of battle? There’s been everything else.
Robert O’Sullivan, Bantry, Co. Cork .
Women priests
IN the context of the Catholic Church recently submitting its national synthesis document to Pope Francis, I listened with interest to an interview with the Archbishop of Dublin, Dermot Farrell, on RTÉ Radio 1 (August 16).
While admitting that the Church has a considerable problem with a shortage of priests and an ageing clergy, he saw no future for the ordination of women – a leading aspiration in the submitted document. Judging by the archbishop’s responses, women becoming deacons seems to be the extent of what might be possible.
This is very disappointing, as the preservation of the Church and its future wellbeing means it can ill-afford to continue excluding women from the priesthood, especially in a free world that has finally grasped the concept and value of gender equality in all facets of life.
Should the follow-on synod of bishops, which is due to assemble in a year’s time in Rome, ignore such thorny messages conveyed in worldwide synthesis documents, a hard core of fundamentalists is all that will endure in the Catholic Church.
In an increasingly turbulent world, the last thing humanity needs is another group of religious fundamentalists.
Michael Gannon, Kilkenny
Free school buses
IT HAS been reported in the newspapers and on the TV news that our school bus system is in chaos.
As if the long-suffering public didn’t have enough on their plates keeping their houses warm for their children and keeping them in dinners, it is now a lottery as to whether or not a parent can get a seat on a school bus for their child.
It is patently obvious that, in the first instance, there are not enough school buses. Secondly, parents should not have to pay for their child to get a seat on a school bus. There is plenty of money available to provide free school buses. Thirdly, the scheme should also be extended to secondary school pupils.
The benefits of having enough free school buses are many. The first that spring to mind is in the case of a household with a child going to primary school and a baby at home. The parent has to secure the baby into the car seat in the back of the car and then strap the older child into the front seat, and try to make the journey to and from the school safely.
Another benefit is the obvious fact that it would take tens of thousands of cars off the road of a morning, which has to be a huge advantage when it comes to road safety, not to mention the peace of mind of the poor unfortunate parents.
Another point is that free school buses should be provided regardless of the financial situation of parents. This is not rocket science and I call on all TDs of all political persuasions to make the introduction of free school buses for all a priority. I would also ask every voter to contact their TD about the issue as soon as possible.
We are failing parents and children miserably and it is time to do something about it. John Fair, by email.