IT has now been revealed that the Ahern and Cowen administrations constantly ignored the advice and warnings from the Department of Finance about the Cabinet’s budget decisions, taxation intentions and social partnership deals.

WELL done to all who cast their vote last week and are heady with excitement at having backed a winner — in truth, you could hardly have done otherwise.

AN early test of Fine Gael’s commitment to real political reform will be whether it rescinds the extraordinarily undemocratic rule (introduced by Fianna Fáil) whereby political parties can “co-opt” unelected people onto town and county councils where former councillors have been elected to the Dáil.

FROM Australia I wish to congratulate, and thank, the Irish electorate for their mature thinking and casting of their votes last Friday.

ON the Frontline on Monday evening the two newly-elected left-wing TDs, Clare Daly and Dessie Ellis received a less than warm welcome from the audience who viewed them with suspicion.

WE feel utterly betrayed by Fine Gael. We voted for them so they could uphold their electoral pledges and bring the country back to stability. Now what happens?

AT a time when our misfortunes are denominated in billions it may seem of little importance to consider the waste of a few million.

NOW that the Greens have been sorted out in the election, is it too much to hope that having seen their foray into grown-up politics fail, they would return to being a little would-be intellectual debating society, meet in private, and leave the rest of us alone?

I WISH to publicly acknowledge the excellent standard and level of provision of subtitling which RTÉ provided during all of its election coverage.

I REFER to Jimmy Woulfe’s article under “Flashing election signs’ threat to road safety”. In particular I refer to the comments of Gerry Behan, Director of Environmental Services at Limerick County Council.