Unfortunately, since there’s no alternative media really, there’s no possibility of correction.

The usual argument is that the opposition are incompetent. My response – if the country is being run so badly, just vote for anyone but those already in power. We need to keep the incumbents on their toes to avoid the development of the incestuous relationships between politicians, developers and banks that has caused so much damange to the country. They should not enjoy comfortable complacency safe in the knowledge that they will be re-elected regardless.

Why do (influential) people not talk openly about the devil that was Haughey? Perhaps it’s an indication that politics and the press / media in Ireland is not yet as mature as in other European countries. What we really need is someone with vision. Harney did not have courage. A politician appointed as Minister for Health should undertake a root and branch reform by replacing the entire management of the HSE and eliminating layers of middle management fat. Patients and first line services should be the top priority – not civil servant privileges!

The only point i’d take exception to concerns the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2009. Unfortunately, organised crime in Ireland has reached worrying levels and needs to be dealt with accordingly. A jury trial does not work as mafia-type organisations have the capacity to realistically threaten the jurors. I support the Bill, although it does require careful oversight to prevent abuse of the newly granted powers.

The government’s spin is that the orders have a moral obligation to their victims rather than a legal obligation. Isn’t it odd that members of the legislator should be appealing to morals rather than laws?

In fact it was the trumping of laws by morals that allowed the morally superior church to continue it’s illegal abuses for many decades and insulated from answering to the law.

In the same vein, opposing corruption is not a moral issue, there is no higher moral ground, it’s a question of the rule of law. The rule of law is not something that exists in the moral sphere.

Morals are malleable, you can balance the “good” done by Haughey against the “flaws”. Sins can be forgiven and apparently wiped clean in the act of confession. On the other hand the law does not balance good versus bad apart from the determination of sentences or compensation.

Politicians should stick to the law.

How does the HSE expect us to fight obesity and incipient diabetes when we have Madame Harney’s visage to contemplate?