Madam, - Odran Flynn stresses the age of the 20 Labour Party TDs in the new Dáil (Analysis, August 11th). Thankfully, the people of Cork returned one of the younger new TDs, Ciarán Lynch. Youth and experience are essential to any political party. Labour Youth demonstrated its capabilities with the Tom Johnson summer school this year. One aspect that Mr Flynn didn't mention was gender. Labour is proud to have the highest percentage of female TDs of any political party in the Dáil.
Fianna Fáil may find it can no longer distance itself from its own misguided policies - the privatisation of the health services by stealth and the privatisation of Aer Lingus. Blaming its coalition partners is no longer an option.
I share Mr Flynn's concern that we in the Labour Party have failed to convince more of the electorate to vote for our vision of society. Politics does matter; and in my opinion a vibrant Labour Party is essential if we are to benefit from a successful economy, while maintaining it. Labour has the experience, gender balance and younger members eager to manage a successful economy for the benefit of all its citizens. For Mr Flynn to predict the demise of the Labour Party is wishful thinking. - Yours, etc,
COLETTE FINN,
Chairperson, Cork South
Central Constituency Council,
Labour Party,
Bandon Road,
Cork.
Madam, - Odran Flynn's analysis of the performance of the Labour Party in the general election was a masterful extrapolation and an outstanding piece of journalism. - Yours, etc,
NOREEN P WHELAN,
Sycamore Road,
Carlow.
Madam - Odran Flynn believes that Labour is facing a crisis of relevance following the outcome of the general election. Odran Flynn is a member of the Progressive Democrats. Ah, the silly season. - Yours, etc,
SÉAMUS DOOLEY,
The Tenters,
Dublin 8.