Haughey and the Tiger
Madam, - So Bertie Ahern is now crediting his political mentor with securing Ireland's economic success. It was in fact Alan Dukes's principled attitude to the role of an Opposition that laid the secure foundations for the current healthy economy in 1987.
Before that, Mr Haughey and the rest of Fianna Fáil simply put party before country when in Opposition in a way which is now being mendaciously airbrushed out of history.
For a party so long in government, it is when it is in opposition that Fianna Fáil as a political machine comes into its own. For Fianna Fáil, opposition seems so contrary to the laws of nature that the party is prepared to do anything to get back to government, where it can coast along. One senior politician has said that when in Opposition Fianna Fáil "would eat you" in its efforts to return to government.
In the four years before 1987, Mr Haughey, with much party support, opportunistically did everything in his power to wreck each and every initiative of the Fine Gael-Labour government, whether fiscal, social or in relation to peace in Northern Ireland. Some legacy for the great legislator. - Yours, etc,
HUGO BRADY BROWN, Stratford on Slaney, Co Wicklow.
Madam, - Haven't we now heard enough about Charlie Haughey? Ben there, Dunne that, bought the Taoiseach! - Yours, etc,
PAUL GREGAN, Sans Souci Wood, Bray, Co Wicklow.