Madam, – If ever there was proof that a new political party was needed in this country it was decisively demonstrated in the polls last week.
All things being equal, Fine Gael should be heading towards at least 50 per cent in the polls, with its main rivals, Fianna Fail, almost wiped out. The polling figures for Labour are only a temporary phenomenon and would therefore not translate into real votes in a general election.
Basically, what the people of this country are telling their politicians is: we have no faith in any of you and if there were a general election tomorrow morning we would not, nor could not, vote for any of you. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Most of the analysis of the Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI poll has concentrated on the surprise of Labour emerging as the largest party.
Surely the most astonishing aspect of the poll findings is that one sixth of the electorate is still prepared to vote for Fianna Fáil? – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Having read that 40 per cent of the Irish people would reject both Enda Kenny and Brian Cowen as their taoiseach, it struck me that you left Eamon Gilmore out of the questionnaire. Perhaps The Irish Timesshould adjust its future surveys to include the country's most popular political party? – Yours, etc,
Madam, – It says very little for the Irish media pack when only one-fifth of people are in support of the current Government yet the emphasis in print and newscasts focuses on the leadership of an opposition party.
Are there no true journalists left in Ireland or, to paraphrase a movie, can they just not handle the truth? – Yours, etc,