I WAS deeply distressed to read your report on the Council of Europe’s findings on prison conditions in Ireland.

I AM a contract cleaner. I work in Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin.

WHEN politicians talk about doing things “for the country” I presume they mean “for the people” — or do they? Let’s see.

WHY aren’t political parties supporting Irish jobs by using Irish-made panelboard in their billboards instead of the cheap throwaway Chinese plywood that I see dotted around the Irish landscape?

SAD to read that the main reason advanced for abolishing the Seanad is “to save money”. Surely any programme of institutional reform in modern Ireland should, as a priority, endeavour to enhance the status of parliament as a whole.

IN the last days of our present government — now without the Greens — it decided to oppose its own programme of government, giving up the declared aim of keeping Ireland a GM-free country, and siding with the pro-GM-lobby in Europe.

YOUR editorial writer (Feb 14) does not seem to have made any objective assessment of facts in coming to the conclusions printed.

WHEN I watched the five leaders on Frontline standing like the crew of Star Ship Enterprise speaking of the science (and fiction) of our economy I felt like shouting: “Beam me up Scottie!”

RÓISÍN LAWLESS asks if Enda Kenny will also propose that Maths be made an optional subject for the Leaving Cert, in view of the poor results obtained by students in recent years (Feb 12).

IF YOU could actually get a loan from a bank now, it would be on the basis that you were loaded and didn’t need it. From the bank’s point of view, they would be super confident that you could afford to repay it.