our photograph (Irish Examiner, February 4) of four TDs tying yellow ribbons to the gates of Leinster House, in support of Margaretta D’arcy, who is in Limerick Prison, is revealing.

We, the Irish Cancer Society, have noted the article ‘Cigarette pack codes to tackle illicit trade’ (Irish Examiner, February 4) and the quote from a representative of Customs ‘welcoming’ the tobacco industry-funded Codentify system.

How do we rate our Government and its individual ministers? Is it by the promises they make or by their performance? Why do we not put more pressure on ministers to save money?

It’s good that AIB is facing reality and writing-off unsustainable debts, but why has it taken so long?

Neil Hegarty, a former Cork City Architect, submitted an unsuccessful alternative proposal to the Jack Lynch Tunnel. The alternative was for a barrage-type river crossing which had some attractive and functional elements.

Some years back the planning talk was about a downriver crossing: will it be a bridge, will it be a tunnel?

I am writing in reference to Conall Ó Fatharta’s report (Irish Examiner, February 4) and to thank him for highlighting this situation.

While I agree with some of Fergus Finlay’s points in his article “Villages and towns outside the Pale will die without urgent action” (Opinion, February 4) I take exception to his opinions on a one-off visit to Ballydehob, Glandore, Schull and Castletownshend on a cold February last weekend.

Limerick is a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Dublin, yet we heard on a Sunday afternoon, and again on Monday, mid-morning, and at 3pm, on the news bulletin, that a minister was travelling to the city, to personally inspect the flood damage.

It was heartening to read that 2,000 people in Cork participated in a charity walk to raise funds for a lovely hunting dog who had been dumped with appalling injuries.