Greeks were right – we won’t fight

I WISH to express my anger at how this great country has been run into the ground.

Was the Celtic Tiger good for Ireland? It made money for those who already had it, but the ordinary citizen made nothing. The Government had the golden goose in their hands butinstead of nurturing it, they cooked it. A great opportunity to do good, with money coming into government coffers so fast they couldn’t count it, was lost. Bad management of our affairs was the order of the day, and still continues.

When a minister needs the government jet to drop him from one end of the country to another, and has the cheek to order up his limo to drive him home, that’s not a disgrace ... it’s criminal.

At a time of continuing cutbacks, hearing of Noel Dempsey’s recent escapade must have been a bitter pill to swallow for people caring for those with special needs whose carer hours were reduced.

The Government can find billions to prop up banks that should be bulldozed – but not for a woman whose one night of respite per month for her son is now gone. Or a woman whose Down Syndrome daughter has had her special needs assistant’s hours reduced from five a day to five a week.

Fair play to the Greeks, they made a stand: “We will not lie down like the Irish.”

Those words were true, and they hurt. We are a gutless nation.

Declan O’Connor

Mount Agnes Road

Fair Hill

Cork