New year bells sound the alarm on four fronts

IT’s the season for pantomimes, and if you are looking for the best show of all, it’s ongoing in Dublin Castle where it’s set to run for another few years at least.

“Trying to set me up and stitch me up … Be Jesus, I’m some fella … I was quite amused when I saw the document because I wondered why you had Mr Gilmartin in for weeks in here, for weeks on end, changing diaries, changing years, changing months, making it up on the hoof. You never bothered to send any of his diaries … I don’t think it is any of your damn business .”

The incredulity, coupled with hilarity bordering on the ridiculous, leans more towards farce than comedy. Pillars are the main support for any edifice, and if one of these becomes weak, the stability of the entire structure is put at risk.

The four principal pillars of any society are the legislature, the judiciary, the church and the economy. The spectacle played out in Dublin Castle days before Christmas undermined the entire Irish body politic.

Also in the news lately were a few rogue solicitors.

The hesitancy with which the Law Society responded to their property dealing shenanigans was scandalous and the lack of Government action undermines the credibility of the legislature. The report of an investigation that was ordered no less than 10 years ago into clerical abuse in institutions run by the Brothers of Charity almost made headlines recently. As a nation we’ve become immune to reports of clerical sex abuse, so much so that when the latest horror is revealed, there’s little or no public reaction. This undermines our trust in the clergy to lead us in spiritual matters.

Finally, in recent days the word “stagflation” has been uttered by economic commentators to describe economic stagnation brought about by inflation. Is the Celtic Tiger now going to be outrun by the Celtic Stag causing the economy to be undermined?

Instead of new year bells, it’s alarm bells that should be ringing because the four pillars of Irish society seem to be on shaky ground. If one falls, we all fall. It will be no laughing matter as comedy turns to tragedy.

Anna Kavanagh

Corracorkey

Mostrim

Co Longford