Enough is enough. Send for the Burmese monks

WHEN will the people tell the Government: ‘Stop. Enough’? When will they take to the streets to show their disgust at the way things are being run at present?

What a pity our immigrants did not include a few hundred Burmese monks.

The Taoiseach is now paid more than the US and French presidents and the British prime minister. The Dáil sits for about 90 days each year — or 2½ days a week on average — but the Taoiseach prefers to absent himself for one of them. As well as junior ministers, we now have a record number of committees formed from backbenchers with the chair, vice-chair and secretary of each of them getting extra payments.

And then we have independent TDs getting party leader allowances. I’ve heard of parties holding meetings in telephone kiosks, but this is ridiculous. A political party of one? Come back, Joe Higgins! Meantime hospitals are being told to close wards to keep within budget. Of course, that is due to the HSE, and not Health Minister Mary Harney. It is hard to see what she is responsible for, but then no one takes responsibility for anything anymore.

It is obvious that the Celtic Tiger has a propensity for banana republics.

Will anyone do anything about it? Oh, for some Burmese monks.

Brendan Hurley

Nursery Drive

Ballinlough

Cork