Few politicians have courage of convictions

The criticisms levelled by Senator Averil Power against Fianna Fáil in her resignation speech could equally be applied to the other political parties.

When campaigning for a ban on hare coursing over the years I’ve seen proof of this, as for example when a TD told me, in a calm tone, after much waffling, “I’m against hare coursing and all that but, you know, I’m not going to lose my seat over a bloody hare.”

When Tony Gregory tried to ban hare coursing via a Private Members Bill in 1993, politicians of all shades ran for cover so fast you’d think an aerial bombardment was imminent.

Okay, so politics is deemed to be a blood sport. But would a little honesty, integrity, and good old fashioned courage not actually enhance the political process, or are we doomed to an endless helping of the nod and wink, every which way, stand for nothing attitude that has been served up to us for decades?

Averil Power has, incidentally, spoken out against hare coursing in the Senate, unlike a single one of her former Fianna Fáil parliamentary party colleagues. We need more people like her in Irish politics.

John Fitzgerald

Lower Coyne Street

Callan

Co Kilkenny