Ireland is not a true democracy or republic

Victoria White (Irish Examiner, December 11) asks: “Did we really need Prime Time’s sting to show us there was endemic corruption in Ireland?”

Most people turn a ‘blind eye’ to the ‘goings-on’ of Irish politics.

But, worse still, successive Irish governments have failed to put in place appropriate action to deal with such behaviour.

They say we are a ‘democracy’ and a ‘republic’ — yet in a democracy or republic, public representatives and state employees are supposed to be held responsible and accountable for their actions.

Not so in Ireland. That is the main difference between Ireland and a democratic republic.

The politicians of this country continue to follow the British colonial system, whereby ‘elite’ elements of society are not held accountable.

It is my opinion that levels of corruption in Ireland match any of the more than 20 countries where I have lived and worked.

Sad, but that is my opinion.

Shame on politicians of all parties.

Michael A. Moriarty

Rochestown

Cork