We must never condone politics without principles

FOR the duration of her 14 years as a member of the Oireachtas, former government minister Mary Hanafin vigorously defended her decision to remain on “Oireachtas leave” from her teaching post, saying she would return to teaching in the event of losing her Dáil seat.

Now that Ms Hanafin has been rejected by the electorate of Dún Laoghaire and has furthermore indicated her intention not to run for Seanad Éireann, can we take it that she will be back in the classroom again soon?

Remaining on teachers’ “Oireachtas leave” ensures that TDs can retain their “fall back career”, while their teachers pension entitlements continue to accrue regardless of how long they are absent from the classroom.

These pensions grow in value because, they are linked to current teachers salaries, not the value at the time they ceased teaching.

Failure by Ms Hanafin or any other member of the Dáil who availed of Oireachtas leave and subsequently lost their seat, to return to the classroom could be viewed as an abuse of the privilege of Oireachtas leave, improper self-enrichment at taxpayers expense, and Dáil Éireann once again holed below the moral and ethical waterline.

We have displayed both an indifference and apathy to decades of politics without principles.

Never again must we compromise on moral issues.

Tom Cooper

Dublin 16