Disgusted to read of cllrs' junkets

Dear sir - As Enda Kenny led his new Cabinet into the Dail last week, the people of Ireland desperately hoped and prayed that this represented a new start, some light at the end of a very dark time in our history. Politicians from all parties propagated the notion that the electorate demanded and expected a new way of doing politics. The first item of business for the newly convened front bench was the reduction in salaries of the highest paid public servants, starting with the Taoiseach himself. The optics were good. Hope had returned. But it was with complete contempt and disgust that I later read that the winds of change doesn't seem to have registered with our local councillors, as the venerable members of Meath County Council have awarded themselves a €10,000 junket to New York and London for seven of their number. The arrogance and sheer ignorance shown by these people signifies to this reader that the rhetoric sold to the Irish people by politicians from all sides in the run-up to the election was more spin and lies. Mrs Dillon Gallagher and her cohorts clearly hold the general populace, many of whom are struggling to keep the roof over their heads, with complete disregard. While Mrs Dillon-Gallagher and Messrs Farrelly, Fegan and McGrath squander €10,000 of ratepayers' money, ordinary Meath mothers and fathers spend sleepless nights worrying how they will continue to feed, clothe and educate their kids. Perhaps our councillors might be better off paying scholarships for five students who otherwise would not receive third-level education or even donating it to the Kells parents who are desperately fundraising for a life-saving operation for their child. I could go on. I note only one councillor (Catherine Yore) suggested that councilors should pay their own way. For this, she should be commended if, in fact, she was actually sincere. All too often, such statements are nothing more than political box-ticking. As a society, we no longer can tolerate politicians who merely suggest proper conduct, we must insist on leaders who demand equality, leaders who put the people first. Fine Gael and Labour now stand charged with that duty as our new government leaders. Their underlings at local government level would do well to be cognisant of this fact. The game is over, we will no longer forget such misdeeds. Over the next few years and not just in the weeks preceding the next local elections, you are being judged. We now need leadership that demands fair play for all and not just the powerbrokers and our political elite. The jury is out on Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Tanaiste Gilmore but also for John Farrelly, Jimmy Fegan and Ann Dillon-Gallagher - have a nice trip, your electorate awaits you. Yours, Greg Smith, Sycamore Ave, Kells.