A chara, – Stephen Collins's assessment that the future of Fianna Fáil is forever more jeopardised because of the musings of a number of TDs on a prospective future coalition with Sinn Féin is astonishingly melodramatic ("FF will pay a heavy price if it decides to ally itself with SF", Opinion & Analysis, February 12th).
Following the most recent general election, Fianna Fáil was soon relegated to third place in the opinion polls. Among the reasons considered for this relegation was the decision to enter Government with Fine Gael, which was in clear contrast to the intent of the electorate last February.
Each party should put forth its manifesto prior to the election and post-election should have the conviction to create a government which will implement as much of its manifesto as possible.
Ruling out potential coalition partners prior to the election limits the ability of any party to do that. – Yours, etc,
JOHN CONNOLLY,
Rahoon,
Galway.
Sir, – Stephen Collins shows the potential danger of trading long-term political principles for short-term political expediency. – Yours, etc,
DAN DONOVAN,
Dungarvan,
Co Waterford.