Sir, – I disagree with Derek McDowell’s article in two respects (Opinion, April 11th): broken promises and advisers to the leadership.
I, like Mr McDowell, was a Labour TD (in my case, for the constituency of Dublin South West); and every day I meet people who list to me the promises made and broken by Labour in Government, as they trusted Labour to rescue the people of this nation from the vested interests who caused the financial crisis.
All we see is a U-turn, by the imposition on the ordinary citizens of the burden of fixing the economy. The leadership of the party seems to be surrounded by advisers who are influencing their decision-making in a way that contradicts Labour’s principles. The leadership should reopen communications with the electorate who supported them in the last election. I know many of the TDs and all of the Ministers personally and would ask them to re-consider what is being imposed on the people who did not cause the crisis. Electoral reward is not the issue – rather a fair and equitable society. An early national conference would enable members and the leadership to re chart the role in Government. – Yours, etc,
EAMONN WALSH,
Limekiln Green, Dublin 12.
Sir, – Derek McDowell argues that it would have been “treacherous” for Labour to abandon its voters to an “unstable Fine Gael government with a mandate to destroy the public service and reduce welfare”.
This must be challenged. It is not the role of the Labour Party to moderate in government the effects of right-wing policies. Instead, the party exists to offer an alternative.
For nearly a century Labour Party strategy has been to coalesce with right and centre-right parties. This strategy has repeatedly concealed the effects of right- wing policies, muddied the political waters for the electorate, and retarded the growth of social democratic politics in Ireland.
We need to face up to the fact that this strategy is not patriotic, it is perpetuating voter apathy, serves only the interests of career politicians and it needs to end. – Yours, etc,
DIANE FORSYTH,
Leas Cross, Swords,
Co Dublin
Sir, – Labour’s hard decisions and unsung contribution to our national recovery were brilliantly articulated by Derek McDowell (Opinion, April 11th). A must-read! – Yours, etc,
SEAN Mc ENTEE,
Lower Kimmage Road,
Dublin 6W.
Sir, – Derek McDowell (Opinion, April 11th) states “It is not Labour’s fault we are in the mess we’re in”. However, he should have stated that “It is Labour’s fault that it is in the mess it’s in”. After all, when you make such strong and clear pre-election promises and deliver exactly the opposite, what does he – and they – expect? – Yours, etc,
BRIAN CULLEN,
Pine Valley Avenue,
Rathfarnham,
Dublin 16.
Sir, – Peadar Kelly (April 4th) says he cannot vote for Labour because it is “making it difficult for a practising Catholic to vote for [it]”. Does he not have the confidence in his own religious belief and practice that he needs it to be backed up by the State?
The early Christians would not have got far if they had taken this attitude. You can be a perfect Catholic in a secular state. You are not obliged to get a divorce, use contraception, attend gay marriage ceremonies, or eat meat on Fridays if these things are against your personal ethics.
How can it benefit Catholicism to know that non-Catholics are being forced to follow its rules?
The theocracy which stifled Ireland for too long should be allowed to wither away, but this would not stop the faithful from consuming only black tea and dry toast during Lent if they so wished. – Yours, etc,
MADELINE STRINGER,
Meadow Grove,
Dundrum,
Dublin 16.