I DEPLORE the unethical behaviour of our Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, while serving as our Minister for Finance.

THE claim by Social and Family Affairs Minister Mary Coughlan that welfare fraud is being exposed (Irish Examiner, May 5) rings hollow when one hears of the corruption in Fianna Fáil and the outpourings from the Mahon Tribunal.

RAY BURKE, according to the Irish Examiner, is seeking free legal aid to fight tax charges. We have politicians with rubber necks and brass necks, but this man has a steel neck.

CONGRATULATIONS to Pat Brosnan on his excellent column on our tax-favoured bloodstock industry (Irish Examiner, Nov 15).