Sir, I genuinely welcome Michael Commins’s remarks concerning my designation of Albert Reynolds. His right to dissent is paramount. I could assuage him by, pointing out the tongue­incheek nature of the remarks and the ironic spin on them. It scarcely matters either way. You like the joke or you don’t. Comedy can be notoriously subjective. Longford people contemplating a fatwah might ring RTÉ for advice.

No less welcome, though slightly less credible, was the contribution of Ms Moya Doherty on RTÉ’s Sunday Show. There was an unmistakable, if inappropriate air of authority about her judgment of my remarks. Her instant mantra “He got it wrong”, while a poor substitute for rational argument, might have given one the impression that there was some objectively verified view or consensus that such was the case.

Ms Doherty’s response is as precious, Pavlovian and predictable as one might expect from one who till recently toiled in the state television monopoly. She gravely tuttutted that comedy needs an editor. No. Surely not? This is indeed a radical discovery.

Having so hastily offered this tautology, she might reflect that the reason why the remark was included by me was because it had gone through the most tortuous and critical editing process of all, live performance in front of audiences around the country. If a gag doesn’t hack it in front of the paying public, it gets “edited” damn quick. She will doubtless be surprised to learn that the paying punters are out of step with her. In deference to Ms Doherty, I will have a word with them and bid them mend their ways.

What should be said is that, like my work or not, I am a professional comedian satirist, whatever. I am no dilettante. Ms Doherty has been a produce/director at RTÉ For a number of years, with a background in general programming. Her views on comedy, therefore, lack something for which even her abundant confidence cannot compensate. The studios of Montrose are not easily confused with those of Max Sennett. For Ms Doherty to offer a credible critique of comedy, she would want to find higher ground than Montrose, Dublin 4, or even the dizzying altitude of Eurovision.

I support her right to make her own judgment on whatever subject she so chooses she may even effect the tone of an expert if it pleases her, but let us be in no doubt as to her credentials in instance. There is, however, evidence of real and general consensus over RTÉ’s craven “canning” of Scrap Saturday. This was a shameless act of broadcasting cowardice and political subservience, quite at variance with its much professed public service remit. The public’s view would appear to be that RTÉ got it wrong.

I don’t recall Ms Doherty’s ex­cathedra pronouncement on that. Yours, etc.,