Failure of leadership hinders recovery prospects

NOT once has any one of our political leaders had the courage, foresight or common decency to acknowledge his or her contribution to the sorry pass we have arrived at in our country.

The absence of leadership and accountability makes our political leaders no more worthy of the authority to govern this nation than the crime gangs that dominate parts of Limerick and west Dublin.

So-called social partnership was a carve-up by strong-arm factions at the expense of taxpayers and the future. The chairmanships of critical state bodies were given out on the basis of friendship, not on competence and track record.