I HEARD plenty of grumbling over Minister Gormley's recently proposed chewing gum levy.

As a nation I think we are in denial about just how shamefully remiss we are about litter. Discarded chewing gum is so prolific that it almost doesn't stand out on the pavement anymore. It actually takes newly laid paving (or some that's newly cleaned, for the umpteenth time) to show it up for the disgraceful mess that it is.

Throwing gum on the ground or litter out of a car window is blatant abuse. But most offenders go a stealthier route. Take an average trip to the cinema as a prime example. Popcorn boxes, drink cups, sweet wrappers and bags. Look around when the film ends. They are not left on the occasional seat or in the odd row. It's every row, every time a film is shown. After which everyone files blithely out past the beleaguered staff, who wait with brushes and black sacks in hand, to pick up after their peers like servants.

Oh and leaving your empty drink in the seat holder does not make you a better person than your neighbour who flung it on the floor.

It's the same story on the trains. Despite plenty of bins, both on board and in the station, the disposal location of choice seems to be the carriage table. Sandwich cartons, Styrofoam cups, justused tickets. Ditto reading material. Newspapers are litter! And just how many copies of Hello! do you think the cleaning staff want to take home?

But the golden sweeping brush must go to any citizen who dutifully saves up glass, cardboard etc for recycling, then dumps it all on the ground, beside the bin at the Bring Centre. Now there's a blurred carbon footprint if ever I saw one.

So bring on the chewing gum levy, I say. Because as a nation we are absolute litter louts. And the sooner we realise it the better. Like the plastic bag tax, maybe through our pockets is the only way to make us learn.

Gina Byrne, Annaholty, Birdhill, Co Tipperary.

Third World water and FF's Galway tent
From Joe Lynch

THERE was no shortage of cool, clean, clear water for thirsty visitors to the Fianna Fail hospitality tent in Galway.

Infection-free water could be found for Fianna Fail while the people of Galway have spent months under the threat of disease from their water supply.

The Galway water crisis has been going on for months and still a solution has not been found. The ordinary people of Galway are definitely being treated differently to those invited into the Fianna Fail tent. This annual display of wealth and influence is in stark contrast to the people of Galway by the local authority who cannot even provide a basic necessity like clean water.

A clean and disease-free water supply is a vital public service, yet the people of Galway continue to endure what can only be described as Third World conditions.

The Third World and the Galway Tent . . . now there is a new and accommodating Fianna Fail policy!

Joe Lynch, Vice-Chairman, Munster RSF Executive, 16 Beechgrove Avenue, Ballinacurra, Weston, Limerick.

Harris's promotion of Fianna Fail recalled
From Tony Jordan

IN RETROSPECT I think that the alternate government offered to the electorate in the last election did very well, considering the odds stacked against it. I recall this on the nomination to the Senate of Eoghan Harris. I recall how RTE facilitated his promotion of Fianna Fail on the Late Late Show just before polling day.

RTE is of course an impartial public service broadcaster!

I offer my sincere congratulations to Senator Harris and look forward to his contributions in the upper house.

Tony Jordan, 52 Gilford Road, Dublin 4.

From Keith Nolan

EOGHAN Harris recently told a West Belfast audience "that cultivation of victimhood is not going to bring any peace to this country". An interesting statement coming from a man who has made an entire career out of it!

Keith Nolan, Caldra House, Caldragh, Carrick~on~Shannon, Co Leitrim.

Gardai at passport control need manners
From Deirdre Williams

COMING through passport control in Dublin airport recently I was appalled at the manner in which a garda was shouting at two people. He was rude, loud and people in the vicinity could hear the details of the situation. He finally let them through after he had publicly humiliated them.

This is not the first time I have seen an incident of this nature when coming through passport control in Dublin airport. If there is an issue with an individual's right to enter the country, the officials at passport control should be capable of handling the situation in a professional manner. I have been through passport control in many other countries but I have never seen the officials behave in a disrespectful way.

In the US I have seen people questioned at length but it is always handled quietly and courteously. Is it too much to ask that our gardai at passport control conduct themselves in a professional and civilised fashion?

Deirdre Williams, 32 Kickham Rd, Inchicore, Dublin 8.

The promotion of regional Irish dialects
From Darren Mac an Phriora

WHILE in the Kerry Gaeltacht recently I spoke to a lady who has been living there for over 40 years. Although fluent in Irish she said that she would not be as fluent as the local Irish speakers. She said that standardised Irish ostracised people from being fluent in the different dialects.

I believe that the different dialects should be taught in school, eg people in Connacht should learn Galway and Mayo Irish and people in Ulster should learn Donegal Irish etc.

This idea would not be hard to implement. All that would be needed would be for the course to be edited.

I believe that this regional approach would make Irish flourish.

Darren Mac an Phriora, Corran Chaislean Cnucha, Caislean Cnucha, Co Bhaile Atha Cliath.

Were they claiming Padraig as British?
From Robert O'Sullivan

SAD to hear of Padraig Harrington's disappointment that he was not introduced as "the Open champion" at the first tee when he was beginning the Bridgestone Invitational tournament. Not fair, especially when it was something he looked forward to so much.

When Padraig won the Open, I was astonished when he was collecting his trophy and was introduced as "Padraig Harrington, the Open champion." There was no mention that he was from Ireland.

It was as if they were claiming him as British because he spoke English, and anyway, what's the difference, seemed to be the message.

This came across clearly when they introduced Sergio Garcia as being "from Spain, " and top young amateur Rory McIlroy as being from "Co Down".

Viewers from around the world might well have wondered where that was.

Padraig's magnificent victory was not diminished by this sort of nonsense, yet it was very noticeable when it occurred.

Robert O'Sullivan, Bantry, Co Cork.