Madam, - I welcome the call from Jack O'Connor of SIPTU for a centre-left option at the next election (The Irish Times, February 12th). There are two points I wish to make:
1. "Show me your company and I'll tell you what you are." For the past eight years Bertie has been sitting comfortably in Coalition with the most right-wing party in the State and Fianna Fáil is a member of one of the most right- wing groups in Europe. If it looks like a donkey and acts like a donkey chances are it's a donkey.
2 Sinn Féin is a one-trick pony. Its TDs will never vote for Pat Rabbitte or Enda Kenny for Taoiseach. They will only vote for Bertie or abstain. So if we want to get rid of this coalition and its value system we must provide a real alternative.
This is not as difficult as most commentators would have us believe. At the last General Election Fianna Fáil got only 41.48 per cent of the vote.
The main reason for its success with such a low figure was the lack of an alternative at the last election. People felt that no matter who they voted for, Bertie would still end up as Taoiseach.
Those whose boats have not risen with FF/PD and those who hope for a more just and equitable society are entitled to a real choice.
I support Pat Rabbitte's determination that there will be a real alternative government on offer at the next election. - Yours, etc.,
Cllr ROBERT DOWDS (Labour), Castle Park, Dublin 22.