Hold them accountable

TIM HOURIGAN (Letters, Sept 16) thinks that if “we reduced the powers of politicians, outlawed the party whip system” and got rid of vested private interests, “vigilance and conscience” would reign supreme and those in power would “vote based on considered judgement”.

That is Utopian.

The reason the country is in a mess is that the people in positions of power thought themselves untouchable.

That happened because far too many journalists were part of a media circus in which powerful people became celebrities.

As a consequence the most powerful in the land became far too secure in their positions of power.

We cannot get rid of vested interests. But we should make sure that we hold them and their representatives to account by a vigorous, critical and free press.

A Leavy

Sutton

Dublin 13