Callely a diversion from the real issues

I DISAGREE with you when you say Ivor Callely’s “relatively trivial expenses wheeze” constitutes “a litmus test moment for the Irish political class and our political culture” (Editorial, June 5).

The real litmus test of our political culture has already taken place. The small number of people at the head of government, banks, construction, etc, who advocated and supported decisions that have nearly bankrupted the country have not been held to account.

In fact, many are still in positions of power and influence lecturing the rest of us daily. Billions of taxpayers’ money are being voted to bail out the culpable.

Callely’s expenses furore only shows the procedures for monitoring them were not working. If they were, his claims would have been sent back to him and a more realistic claim requested. In the same way the procedures for preventing a small number of people from bankrupting the country were not working but not one of those in the most powerful positions in the land did anything about it.

The reason the procedures were not working was because the people in power did not feel it was necessary they should work. That was the real litmus test. Ivor Callely is just an easy scapegoat to distract attention from the more important issues.

Anthony Leavy

Shielmartin Drive

Sutton

Dublin 13