Madam, - On Wednesday night Fianna Fáil aired a party political broadcast featuring warm endorsements of Taoiseach Bertie Ahern from Tony Blair, Bill Clinton and George Mitchell. While the tributes centred on Ahern's role in the Northern Ireland peace process, both Blair and Clinton also praised Ireland's economic performance. Clinton just about stopped short of adding: "It's the economy, stupid!"
The screening of this party political broadcast inevitably raises questions about the timing of the Taoiseach's Westminster address the previous day and the warm and glowing personal introduction he received from Tony Blair on that occasion, which was televised live in Ireland.
Is this Tony Blair's "thank you" for Bertie Ahern's help in securing agreement in Northern Ireland, by far the most prominent positive achievement for the Blair legacy? It is clear from Deaglán de Bréadún's report in Thursday's edition that, according to Fianna Fáil, all three men were fully aware of how their contributions were to be applied. - Yours, etc,
PETER MOLLOY, Haddington Park, Glenageary, Co Dublin.
Madam, - It is appalling and absolutely unacceptable that Fianna Fáil should use foreign politicians in an effort to influence the electorate of this democratic country. That they should allow themselves to be used in this manner also speaks volumes. - Yours, etc,
RICHARD ALLEN, Sligo.
Madam, - Isn't it odd that rather than questioning ourselves as to why we should even be considering dumping somebody with the ability, track record and experience of Bertie Ahern, we prefer to criticise and undermine the right of consummate politicians and international statesmen such as Bill Clinton and Tony Blair to endorse the Taoiseach as a proven leader? Delirious from the mantra that we should seek change for change's sake, are we sleepwalking ourselves into a disaster that almost everyone else bar ourselves can see? - Yours, etc,
SEAMUS DORAN, Templeudigan, New Ross, Co Wexford.
Madam, - I am writing to express my absolute dismay at the decision by Tony Blair to feature in Fianna Fáil's party political broadcast. For a Labour leader publicly to back Fianna Fáil gravely insults the principles of fraternity that the Irish Labour Party and the British Labour Party are supposed to share as members of the Party of European Socialists.
How dare Tony Blair back a party in direct competition with The Irish Labour Party? - Yours, etc,
DANIEL O' NEILL, Beech Hill, Donnybrook, Dublin 4.
Madam, - Tony Blair said in his resignation speech last week: "I have been prime minister of this country for just over 10 years. In this job, in the world today, that is long enough, for me but more especially for the country. Some times the only way you conquer the pull of power is to set it down."
Yet here in Ireland, Bertie Ahern is selfishly looking for 15 years! In the US, their president gets a maximum of eight years - and for very good reasons. Both Tony Blair and Bill Clinton have moved aside to honour the life-giving principle of rotation. So too will Bertie Ahern be moved aside, because, as Tony Blair said, 10 years is long enough for the country. - Yours, etc,
MARK O'BRIEN, Riverwood Green, Dublin 15.
Madam, - The uproar surrounding the decision by an "outsider" like Bill Clinton to support Bertie Ahern's election campaign reminds me of the response of red-neck rural Republicans in the 2004 US presidential election who rejected any attempt by non-Americans to alert them to the error of their ways. They got Bush. Will we get Kenny? - Yours, etc,
PADRAIC VALLELLY, Whitworth Road, Drumcondra, Dublin 9.
Madam, - At Wednesday's tangle in the Ranelagh triangle Michael McDowell was reported as saying: "A vote for the rainbow is a vote for a government in which left-wing parties will be the driving force."
Does this indicate that he is now unwilling to form a new coalition with Fianna Fáil, whose leader Bertie Ahern is an avowed socialist? - Yours, etc,
DERMOT HARDY, Glenbourne Walk, Leopardstown Valley, Dublin 18.
Madam, - If Wednesday's TV debate among the smaller parties, did nothing else, it surely opened the eyes of our flat-earth adherents to the strong possibility of a return to the recession of the 1980s, should either Sinn Féin or the Green Party play any significant part in a future government. Gerry Adams's and Trevor Sargent's total lack of anything even resembling sound economic policies was laid bare for all to see.
Apart from their singularly narrow vision, both Adams and Sargent were shown to be completely out of their depth. Adams was also less than forthcoming when Michael McDowell had to remind him of his fine second home in Donegal. But the revelation, from their own mouths, that neither of these individuals could even advance one constructive economic suggestion, let alone a workable policy, was frightening. - Yours, etc,
NIALL GINTY, Killester, Dublin 5.
Madam, - Is it not a sad and significant reflection on the Irish electorate, that the de facto ditching of our neutrality, thanks to the Government's complicity in the disastrous Iraq calamity, does not feature as a major issue in the election campaigns of our political parties?
If we were a caring and civilised society, rather than the cosy, greedy, and self-centred lot that we clearly have become, would we not be calling on all election candidates to demand immediate closure of our airports to all warmongers and their agents of death and destruction? Even if we are a post-Christian society, have we no shred of decency or humanity left in us? - Yours, etc,
GEAROID KILGALLEN, Crosthwaite Park South, Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin.
Madam, - The old adage "If it isn't broken, don't fix it" comes to mind when thinking about the forthcoming general election in Ireland.
Interested persons in the North have looked on as the country has become one of the wealthiest nations per capita in Europe with a strong economy and rapidly developing infrastructure.
Great tranches of EU funding are now underpinned by sound domestic fiscal policy resulting in sustainable growth.
While enjoying and contributing to European co-operation the country has maintained strong trade and strategic links with the US and UK - both strands of foreign policy of which are vital to continued prosperity.
A sensitive approach to the Northern political question has helped to bring about peaceful conditions, with Dublin and London striving together for welfare of all in this troubled province.
Resist change for the sake of change - the outgoing coalition can be entrusted with the ongoing governance of the nation. - Yours, etc,
GARTH WHITE, Cloverhill Avenue, Drumahoe, Derry.
Madam, - While I was walking through Dublin the other day an election poster attached to a nearby lamp-post was blown off and into my path. I crouched down to avoid being hit in the eye, but it struck my knee a bit of a thump.
On closer inspection of the offending article I observed that under the smiling candidate's face was the message, "Making the Streets Safer". Luckily the eye or knee was not lost on me. - Yours, etc,
ROBERT CARTY, Orwell Park View, Templeogue, Dublin 6w.
Madam, - Liam Young (May 16th) concludes that the explanations of the Taoiseach's unorthodox financial arrangements were both understandable and plausible. Unfortunately - and this is the real "elephant in the room" - Mr Ahern has once again failed to explain why, exactly, the Minister of Finance thought it fitting to be beholden financially to prominent businessmen, most of whom had interests both here and in the UK, at a time when the punt was not only floating against the pound sterling, but was under considerable pressure in the money markets. This was a time when astute speculators could reap large rewards by use of exchange rates.
Mr Ahern was the Cabinet member responsible for managing the Irish economy. His close association with suitcases full of banknotes, large amounts of personal cash (his or Mr Wall's or Ms Larkin's or AN Other's) cash stashed in Government offices, and large sums flitting from one bank account to another was, to say the least, unbecoming to the dignity of the high office of Minister of Finance. - Yours, etc,
GORDON DAVIES, Briar Wood, Bray, Co Wicklow.
Madam, - So, a Cabinet minister admits to having smoked cannabis. This could be either a sudden attack of honesty, or an attempt to win the youth vote. Neither seems likely from a conservative party which regularly demonise hash as a gateway drug.
If the Taoiseach wants to rid the land of dope, I suggest he looks to his cabinet: Ministers Cullen and Roche would be an excellent start. - Yours, etc,
DECLAN KENNY, Mill Lane, Leixlip, Co Kildare.