Public sector and ministers immune from punishment for their mistakes

I agree with the teachers who object to assessing their own pupils. Apart from favouritism, there is the risk of a parent irate about a pupil’s low grade.

If the teacher fearfully awards the pupil a higher grade than is deserved, he is following in the footsteps of the public sector, where a job is for life and promotion is controlled by length of service. These people get promoted automatically and do not get punished for mistakes. What punishment was doled out to the minister who spent millions on dodgy voting machines?

Just look at the HSE, where the low standard of management is crippling, despite the good work performed at the coalface. Irish Water is being fashioned to follow in the same direction. There is not a thought being given to the cost to the taxpayers, nor to a credible plan for modernising water services quickly and cheaply.

In parts of Ireland, water is not fit to drink. Only after the leaks and lead pipes have been repaired, or removed, should Irish Water reconsider the installation of water metres.

Richard Prendergast

Mondaniel

Rathcormac

Co. Cork