Parish pump politics alive and well

SO, Minister of State for Housing Willie Penrose felt he had no option other than resign from government because of proposals to close Columb Barracks in Mullingar.

Perhaps it’s the cynic in me, but I get the whiff of parish pump politics at work here.

There are other matters of much more significance which might justify Minister Penrose falling on his own sword. Like the pre-election promises by both Fine Gael and Labour which have been reneged on.

For instance, the Government failure to implement the pledge to increase mortgage interest relief for people in negative equity, the abandonment of the pre-election commitment to impose losses on senior bondholders at Anglo Irish Bank and the spectre of increased third-level fees despite a signed commitment from Education Minister Rúairi Quinn.

Apparently, these are not issues which Mr Penrose regards as resigning matters, but the closure of an army barracks in his own constituency, which will not result in any jobs losses, is.

The state should not to be regarded as an instrument to be manipulated in the service of self-serving TDs.

May I remind Willie Penrose that his obligations as an elected member of Dáil Éireann are to accept the principle of collective responsibility and to represent all the people, not self-serving loyalty to one’s own constituents to save his political skin in future elections.

Tom Cooper

Delaford Lawn

Knocklyon

Dublin 16