Drastic times call for drastic measures

WE will be in a national economic emergency for years.

The €40m bonuses payable to AIB executives is an example of a issue which the current laws seem to prevent the Government doing the right thing by the people.

More urgent measures will be required in the future, which may conflict with current norms. Another example is the €600m national children’s hospital for the Sisters of Charity’s Mater Hospital lands and costing an estimated €200m more than it would on a green-field site.

The incoming government must be empowered to unravel any otherwise irrevocable contracts which Minister Harney may have entered into on our behalf.

Section 28.3 of the Constitution made provision for the limited suspension of the Constitution for emergency measures approved by the parliament during times of war. The section was invoked during World War II. We need to give the Dáil a similar freedom to deal with our current national economic emergency.

John Colgan

Leixlip

Co Kildare