Madam, - The Progressive Democrats seem to be in quite a bind, judging by the bizarre and contradictory statements they have been making about their coalition intentions after the general election.
Party leader Michael McDowell said last week that his party "will not be joining a FG/Labour-led coalition, or a FG/Labour/Green-led coalition", and that he believes "that a second election would be preferable to the establishment of a. . . .rainbow government".
This is in direct conflict with the opinion of party president Tom Parlon, who just three weeks ago refused to rule out a deal with Fine Gael and Labour, saying: "from what I see of Fine Gael policy. . . there certainly is scope for compromise". Not only do Mr McDowell's latest comments put him at odds with Mr Parlon, but they also put him at odds with himself. His latest pronouncement is a contradiction of comments he made during a parliamentary party meeting in September 2005, when he said he would be just as happy in coalition with Fine Gael as with Fianna Fáil, depending on the terms of any particular deal.
And last September on the Pat Kenny show he explicitly refused to rule out a post-election coalition with any party except Sinn Féin.
Mr McDowell has made much of the recent controversy surrounding Pat Rabbitte's intentions. But how on earth can he criticise Mr Rabbitte in light of his own conflicting statements? - Yours, etc,
BARRY WALSH, Brookfield Hall, Castletroy, Limerick.