There is an almost magisterial symmetry in the news that the government is now reliant on a deal to build a 'Las Vegas' style casino in the countryside to stay in power.

Michael Lowry cannot contain his excitement at the resignation of Jim McDaid. Lowry, it seems, now has us all by the 'short and curlies'. The supporters of Fianna Fáil must surely have a sense of unease about building another carbuncle in the countryside, thereby putting the welfare of a few gamblers above the welfare of this nation. Oh, who am I kidding? Fianna Fáil supporters are like the scorpion in the Aesop fable, they just cannot help stinging everything that moves to death.

But what of the rest of us, now being held to ransom by the most hated government in the history of the Irish nation, including the British mandate. The people who continue to force themselves on an unwilling public by denying democracy with regard to the outstanding by-elections, are now, it seems, content to mock the people of Ireland by engaging in yet another round of dodgy dealing to save their asses.

If ever a nation had grounds for revolt it is this one. There is a limit to the toleration of seemingly never-ending injustice. I for one want Michael Lowry and Jackie Healy-Rae to at least hear me say, before they cast lots for the soul of Ireland, 'I want my country back; it's not yours to blackmail anti-democrats with.'

Declan Doyle

Lisdowney

Kilkenny