Letters to the Editor, January 21st: On why Ireland is badly governed, dangers posed by food and Donald’s world

Sir, – I read with interest, the analysis of Fintan O’Toole “Why is Ireland so badly governed? Here’s why,” (January 20th), and found myself agreeing with much of the detail. Mr O’Toole rightly criticises elected representatives for spending time making representations on behalf of constituents to the Road Safety Authority.

On a daily basis, constituents will contact their local representative seeking supports and contacts to be made to the HSE, local authorities, passport offices, school boards, etc. This work can happen in tandem with drafting legislation and developing policy, but should it?

After all, we don’t knock on anyone’s door at election time promising a medical card or a new passport in jig time.

I have neither the interest nor the influence in seeing people jump a queue. The fact remains, however, that constituents would not seek such advocacy from their local TD or councillor if the State-funded services were sufficiently resourced to render them efficient in processing people’s requests.

Applications to local authorities for housing can take upwards of 14-16 weeks just to process, before the decade of languishing on a waiting list even begins.

And so, if we collectively voted for individuals and parties promising a genuine pathway to reform when it comes to the accessibility and efficiency of services, as opposed to voting for the person who “got me” something, it might serve us better in the long run. – Yours, etc,

AIDAN FARRELLY,

Social Democrats spokesman on children, equality and youth,

Leinster House,

Dublin 2.

Sir, – Fintan O’Toole quite rightly takes Oireachtas members to task for the amount of time they spend on “imaginary patronage” rather than the serious business of running the country.

The rot, however, continues all the way to local government, or at least what is left of it.