On the back page (News, 10 May) your columnist Michael Clifford correctly questioned the wisdom of allowing former minister Tom Parlon peddle his political influence on behalf of his new employer, the Construction Industry Federation.

Clifford is spot on when he says that in Ireland "self-interest and special interests still dominate over the public interest".

On the back page of the Business section of the same week, Tom Parlon was given a full column to advise Nama on how it should conduct its affairs so as not to undermine the property market. Parlon already devours plenty of prime airtime on national TV and radio so there was no need for the Sunday Tribune to construct another well-appointed soapbox for Tom the Builder.

John Burtchaell,

Mulhuddart,

Dublin 15.