Politics is about pensions and board appointments

“Tell them nothing. Consider them possible adversaries. Protect the institution at all costs.”

Michael Clifford (Irish Examiner, Comment, June. 6.) has got it in one...or, rather, in three.

The pervasive culture in politics is transparency avoidance. Thus, truth is for wimps, openness a dangerous concept. Managing the propaganda is what it’s all about, protecting ‘rear-ends’. Of course, the ultimate delaying tactic is the tribunal/commission of enquiry, Dail committee or consultant report: ie, an armoury of kicking-to-touch, buying time and obfuscating.

After all, there’s a whole tournament of politics to be played out. A series of protracted jousts, elbow-crunching, jostling for career-progression, and pension pots. There’s so many quango opportunities beckoning. Why rock the boat?

All the hulabaloo about retrieving information and relevant minutes from the Department of Finance, IBRC, et al, is needless. The information could be sourced simply by giving the NSA, in the US, a call. All the meaty mobile calls, text messages and e-mails you could ever hope for, in one big repository. No need for all these Dail questions, court appearances, judicial enquiries, etc.

Patrick J. Cosgrove

Chapel Street

Lismore

Co Waterford