Stark contrast

IN A week that saw Environment Minister Martin Cullen admit, albeit reluctantly, that up to E50 million had been wasted on electronic voting, and the publication by RTÉ of the salaries paid to its top presenters — including E600,000 to Gerry Ryan to host a tabloid and, at times, vulgar radio show — an abuse victim, Tom Sweeney, had almost to starve himself to death outside Leinster House because of his treatment by the Residential Institutions Redress Board.

What a cheap, superficial, tacky and smug little republic we have become.

Tom Cooper,

23, Delaford Lawn,

Knocklyon,

Dublin 16.