Establishment cannot evade their responsibilities

MINISTER of State Brian Hayes claims the payment of €3 million to Colm Doherty ‘is a legacy issue … and you can’t undo something that’s already been put in place’.

This is patent nonsense and is the standard line trotted out by those in the ‘establishment’ who themselves face being held to account if they were to ever set such a precedent in Irish governance. If there was the political will, from the current or previous government, to hold those who created the economic depression in Ireland, from across the public and private sector, to account then the means to do so would be found.

As long as people like Ministers Noonan, Hayes and Howlin are too spineless to actually change the rules and law to allow real accountability, then nothing will actually change and nothing will improve and all those who were responsible for causing this mess will continue to walk away with their pensions and golden payments, and the assets they built up, including the politicians and senior civil servants.

Desmond FitzGerald

Canary Wharf

London