Ryan’s daughter gets a star role. Is it jobbery?

PERHAPS it’s the cynic in me, but when I see the shoehorning of some celebrity’s offspring into a well-paid semi-state job, the whiff of nepotism fills my nostrils.

I refer to the appointment of the late Gerry Ryan’s daughter who has secured a position in RTÉ as a TV host.

As a taxpayer and being TV licence compliant, may I ask if RTÉ complied with accepted practice in the sphere of equal employment opportunities for all when making this appointment?

We are all familiar with the cronyism, nepotism and jobbery which has plagued politics and state appointments since the foundation of the state. The three main parties have all engaged in the sordid practice of nepotism when in office. It is regarded as a perk of the job.

The Equality Authority should ensure that all job vacancies in state and semi-state organisations are advertised openly and everyone given an equal opportunity to have their talents assessed. The squalid practice of handing down jobs to family members and political cronies is an affront to the ethos and principles of a democratic republic.

It is also an insult to the hundreds of thousands of citizens currently denied the opportunity to work.

The outrageous remarks of the Fine Gael TD PJ Sheehan to the garda who prevented him driving out of Dáil Éireann while intoxicated – “when we get into power, you will get nothing” – indicates the electorate has more of the same to look forward to.

Tom Cooper

Knocklyon

Dublin 16