THERE is a matter which I’d like to focus attention on.

YOUR news item (June 10), on the Western Rail Corridor, states that although the Western Rail Corridor had a “creditable year” passenger numbers are “well short” of the anticipated numbers.

THE Dáil statement by An Taoiseach (June 7) that special consideration must be given to the development of the streets and ‘laneways of history’ in and around the 1916 National Monument in Moore Street is most welcome.

ONCE more we hear of alleged abuse of older people in a nursing home.

THE Rostrevor nursing home scandal has truly sickened me.

I AGREE wholeheartedly with Fergus Finlay’s contention (June 7) that we should not be drawn into a discussion which places different groups of disadvantaged people in direct competition with one another for assistance, as appeared to be the case in recent television and radio debates where the plight of Irish carers was contrasted with the almost €700 million the Government spends annually on overseas development assistance.

I READ with bemusement that Mr Pat Cox is joining FG with a view to running for the presidency on behalf of that party.

THE recent deaths of Garret FitzGerald and Declan Costello should give us pause for reflection about the calibre of those who entered Irish public life in more recent decades.