Madam, - Over the weekend there was much talk by politicians and political analysts on how "the people have spoken". The clearest message I heard from the people was: no more PDs. And now a diminished PD party seems to be heading back into government with a ministerial portfolio.
My question: Was anyone listening? - Is mise,
CIARAN McATEER, Harold's Cross, Dublin 12.
Madam, - Your Editorial of May 26th says that "the electorate emphatically rejected the alternative alliance for change". After 40 years of involvement in elections, I would readily admit that my arithmetic is not infallible. However, I see that 44.3 per cent (FF+PD) voted directly for the "Ahern" package and 42.1 per cent (FG+Labour+Greens) voted for parties included in the "Kenny" package. (While the Greens never ruled themselves in, they never ruled themselves out either - and most people "out here" assumed that they would be part of the alternative government on offer).
How does a gap of 2.2 per cent in the popular vote translate as "emphatic"? In terms of seats, the alternative coalition was not at the foot of the mountain but only metres from the summit. Ground to be held, not thrown away. Kenny as Taoiseach is not theoretically impossible.
The Labour result was not just disappointing but acutely painful in some cases. However, even a cursory glance at the figures reveals as many as a dozen constituencies where better candidate selection, closer co-ordination and vote management, more troops on the ground and, crucially, better local government representation could have delivered a Labour seat. In addition, while the cameras show the (FG) goalscorers, they do not always credit the (Labour) team which "made" the goals.
In the days and hours up to 14th June, every effort, fair, clean or otherwise, will be made to rattle the nerves and blur the focus of the parliamentary parties (and apparatchiks), of Labour and the Greens. They need to re-examine the results calmly, to think very carefully and look at the medium and long-term benefits of a stable relationship, rather than succumb to the allure (and dangers) of a one-night stand. - Yours, etc,
MAURICE O'CONNELL, Oakpark, Tralee, Co Kerry.
Madam, Bertie Ahern says he wants stable government - and who can argue with that? However, this hardly squares with his first two options - PDs plus independents or the Greens.
The PDs cannot be said to have a mandate to govern, having lost six of their eight seats. The independents may be volatile and so could the Greens.
Admittedly a Labour Party member, I believe the Taoiseach's options should be first Labour, then the Greens and, as a last resort, PDs plus independents - or is Bertie working his way to my first choice in his own sweet way? - Yours, etc,
JOHN McKEOWN, North Commons, Carlingford, Co Louth.
Madam, - The outgoing Government lost nine seats. The Alliance for Change gained twenty seats. So who won?
Any reasonable interpretation would conclude that the electorate voted the present Government "out", and the alliance "in". - Yours, etc,
J. WHITE, Roscam, Galway.
A chara, - Fianna Fáil must realise that while the people clearly wish the party to return to power, the opposite can be said for the Progressive Democrats. The people do not want to see them in government. - Is mise,
RICHARD WILSON, Cullenswood, Ranelagh, Dublin 6.
Madam, - There is not much about Michael McDowell's politics that I share. However I found some of the snide comments about him unsettling. That awful smug self-righteousness of some of those who claim to be on the left about a conviction politician is bad for politics. Perhaps if more people on the left actually listened to ordinary people and had listened less to allegedly left-wing commentators we would be in a stronger position.
I would like to extend to Michael McDowell my appreciation for his courtesy as a constituency colleague and my respect as someone who, from his perspective, brought a fresh and conviction-based approach to Irish politics. - Yours, etc,
Cllr DERMOT LACEY, Beech Hill Drive, Donnybrook, Dublin 4.
Madam, - The voters have shown they are more centrist than most pundits and many politicians supposed them to be. The media misread the strength of the left as much as the PDs misread the strength of the right.
Michael McDowell's error was to confuse the ideal of individual liberty, upon which that party was founded, with the idea of naked individualism. There seemed to be an assumption abroad that the Celtic Tiger would have produced a nouveau-riche petit bourgeoisie that would favour pseudo-Thatcherite politics. Thankfully, the overwhelming majority of Irish voters are more sophisticated than that.
It is far too simple to talk about a trade-off between economics and public service, or that change has been rejected because the residents of the commuter belt are worried about their mortgages. At heart, the people want a stable government to deliver a progressive programme and, at the same time, want a robust opposition to keep it on track.
Radicalism and volatility are not the same thing. - Yours, etc,
SEÁN D. LYNCH, Sommerville, Windy Arbour, Dublin 14.
Madam, - It is quite disgraceful that Bertie Ahern is considering coalition with the remnants of the PDs and a rag-bag of maverick so-called independents. Mary Harney has no mandate to be in government. Her party and its Thatcherite policies have been decisively rejected by the voters. Her performance as Minister of Health has been deplorable and has served only to weaken further one of the worst health services in western Europe. Her return to this portfolio is unthinkable.
In considering such an option Mr Ahern is ignoring more than 50 per cent of the electorate. - Yours, etc,
ALAN McPARTLAND, Grange Court, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16.
Madam, - I shed no tears at the political demise of Michael McDowell and his PD colleagues and hope that their rout will hasten their political extinction. Their policies and philosophy have been comprehensively rejected by the Irish people. Therefore, it would be an affront to our democracy and to our electoral system if that party, particularly through its executive or other non-elected members, had any influence over the next government.
If Mary Harney is to play a role in the next cabinet, she must pay the price: join Fianna Fáil. - Yours, etc,
JUDE HAMILTON, Baldongan, Skerries, Co Dublin.
Madam, - They can't drink the water but they can stomach Fianna Fáil.
The west's a fake. - Yours, etc,
TOM MAHER, Grange Heights, Waterford.
Madam, - Whatever else the people have voted for or against, it is quite clear they have chosen Berlin over Boston. Bertie, please note. - Yours, etc,
MARTIN LOUGHNAN, Skerries, Co Dublin.