It has been almost three weeks since the election, and in that period we have been subjected to prolonged theatrical shadow boxing by our politicians, with many of them acting like spoiled overgrown school children so as to gain political advantage at our expense.

That Tánaiste Joan Burton has used an ‘exceptional’ clause in the new public appointment rules to personally appoint former trade union leader, David Begg, as the chairman of the Pensions Authority, thereby bypassing the public appointments process, is further evidence that cronyism is still widespread in government circles despite what we had been promised.

Every year when the budget is introduced, its merits and drawbacks are brought into focus.

Last week, the Irish people had to endure another session of nauseating back-slapping when the IMF chief, Christine Lagarde hailed them heroes as she was cheered on by her tea boys and girl, Enda, Brendan and Joan and her “good friend, Michael.”

In trying to further discredit participants who have taken part in the wave of recent protests across the country the government have tried to label them as members of Sinn Féin, and in the process are likening them to fascists. 

The recent revelation that €100m of taxpayers’ money has already been spent in setting up Irish Water with much more to follow is an outrageous scandal and an expression of outright contempt towards the taxpayer and the consumer.

Agriculture was the backbone of our economy.

The new legislation that requires the taxing/registration of tractors that solely work on the land is another example of the attack by the Government on rural Ireland. It is another mean swipe in order to extort money from people. There are very many tractors on farms that never go on the public road and such tractors should be exempt from this legislation.

During the so-called Celtic Tiger years, we had the Government, the banks, the ESRI and other groups helping to stoke the fire that led us into the financial ruin we are now in.

Our government made many promises in order to get elected.

In itself, the recent Dáil incident involving Áine Collins and Tom Barry could be described as a harmless bit of horseplay between two work colleagues that was blown out of all proportions.

The Dáil incident involving Aine Collins and Tom Barry could be described as harmless horseplay between two colleagues and that it was blown out of proportion.

Since Enda Kenny has claimed he is not a Catholic Taoiseach, will he in future hold Fine Gael church gate collections outside all the gates of churches of all the other religious denominations throughout this country?

The imminent unwarranted sale of the National Lottery licence is another example of the short-sightedness of our blinkered Government.

The intense campaign of veiled threats, bullying and the instilling of terror and fear in people, which has been the hallmark of this Government’s two years in office, reached a new level in the past week.

During the so-called ‘Celtic Tiger’ years, we had a breed of economists and spokespersons ranging from the government, financial institutions and property websites who appeared to be working in tandem, or at least expressed the same message in stoking the fire that helped to destroy this country.

Under the policy of this Government, and one that is backed by Fianna Fáil, the reality is that the people in this country will no longer fully own their own homes anymore.

In response to Mr Kevin McCarthy’s letter (Aug 6) about the Greek government implementing austerity measures: We know there must be cuts and taxes to reduce our deficit; we know that governmental and administrative waste (‘advisers,’ junkets, expenses, golden handshakes, inflated salaries and pensions) should be eliminated.

Michael Noonan thinks he should be applauded since he borrowed €5bn last week on behalf of the Irish people.

Having been kept away during the referendum campaign, and having recently enjoyed almost a week-long break in a luxurious Rio hotel at our expense, the Minister for Austerity Taxes, Phil Hogan, is once again trying to bully the many septic tank charge boycotters.

This country has little hope of recovery, going on the ineptitude of this present Government and the way they make decisions.

As we face into the last two weeks before the deadline for payment of the household charge, it is inevitable that there will be an intensified advertising campaign on behalf of the Government to both encourage and intimidate people to register and pay.

A LIMERICK man who last week featured on the BBC Crimewatch programme has handed himself up to police in Britain following pleas from his family to do so.

The Scorecard, July 12

LIMERICK club Carew Park have told the FAI they will not play the re-fixed Statoil FAI Junior Cup semi-final with Westport United.

A former Army Corporal who served 26 years in the Defence Forces today denied membership of an illegal organisation styling itself the IRA at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin.