Kenny was right to point out political corruption

FINE Gael leader Enda Kenny was described as “hapless” by Donnacha Maguire (Letters, January 3) because he had the temerity to point out that in a democracy when someone elected by the people to represent them in high public office takes money from private individuals, that is corruption.

Far from being hapless, Mr Kenny would have lost any shred of credibility if he had not done so.

In addition, the Fine Gael leader pointed out that any politician who defends the taking of money by persons holding high public office and says it is “not incorrect” — as Tánaiste Brian Cowen has done — is complicit in that corruption. By telling all of us that we are “neither able nor qualified” to pronounce on the actions of powerful politicians, Mr Cowen is treating the rest of us ordinary people with contempt.

We do not need the advice of a tribunal to make judgments on what is there in front of our eyes. It is the job of the leader of the opposition to point that out.

Far from deprecating corruption, however, the cheerleaders for the one-party state are instead denigrating the opposition for even raising the matter and praising the Tánaiste for demonstrating barefaced hypocrisy.

Anthony Leavy

1 Shielmartin Drive

Sutton

Dublin 13