ENVIRONMENT Minister John Gormley put on a petulant performance on RTÉ’s Prime Time (January 7) when Miriam O’Callaghan asked him about his own duties and those of others during the recent floods and blizzards.

WE must be grateful for small mercies — but not too grateful to those who released more than 500 tonnes of water per second close to midnight last Thursday when most people were in bed and business owners, already trying to cope with a battered economy, had left their premises unaware that the ESB, in its wisdom, had decided to lower the water level in the Inniscarra dam as the witching-hour of midnight approached.

THIS may be a foolish question, but it’s been prompted by a recent visit to the supermarket looking for blueberries and finding they had sold out.

“YOU work for us and you are answerable to us” ... that is the message the electorate now needs to send to all politicians given the privilege of sitting in the Dáil, particularly those at ministerial level.

THOSE who thought the comedy show Kilinascully was far too exaggerated may have to think again if they reflect on the various capers of the last few years.

THANK you for Valerie O’Sullivan’s picture of tranquillity (Fisherman collecting seaweed near Keel in Co Kerry, backpage, February 25).

IT really is a hoot — if you’re in the mood for laughing.

EDUCATION Minister Batt O’Keeffe might need to look into the reasons for the Taoiseach and the Minster of Finance being so haphazard in their reading skills.

LAST year Taoiseach Bertie Ahern appointed 20 junior ministers to an already bloated political plutocracy.

IF you were vague about Haig Gardens, here’s a chance to remedy the situation. Houses in this enclave, close to Cork city centre, rarely come up for sale.