Madam, - John Rooney (January 10th) wonders if Irish Republicanism is a mental condition that leads to "apparently normal people deserting a bland yet democratic party such as the SDLP to vote in droves for a party they know has links to violence and gangsterism". Allow me to offer an alternative explanation.
While I too deplore the Republican movement in its current IRA/Sinn Féin guise, Sinn Féin is the only major party that operates on an all-Ireland basis. What should be clear from its growing vote, North and South, in spite of its links to violent groups, is that people want to see partition removed. Perhaps the extreme violence of the Troubles has slipped from the memories of Sinn Féin voters, or perhaps they are too young to have experienced its full horror, but it is clear they see Sinn Féin as the only party actively pursuing policies aimed at achieving a united Ireland sooner rather than later.
Despite occasional contra-indicative statements, the SDLP appears to aspire to nothing more than a role as a party representing a minority within the UK, similar to Plaid Cymru. And none of the major southern-based parties even considers fielding candidates in Northern elections, not even Fianna Fáil, the self-styled defender of the Irish nation. So where else to turn, for those desperate for a party that does more than pay lip service to this goal?
The irony is that Sinn Féin and the IRA are not the vehicle to a united Ireland, for they have made enemies of the people we need to be friends. They have de-legitimised what for most Irish people should be a legitimate goal. We will not have a united Ireland until this strand of thinking is gone. I call on voters to abandon these unholy Republicans, and on other democratic parties in Ireland to seize this ground and cross the Border. - Yours, etc.,
CONOR COLLINS, Rochestown Road, Cork.
Madam, - John Rooney (January 10th) wants to know why people in the North are deserting "a bland yet democratic party" such as the SDLP for Sinn Féin. I cannot speak for my Northern compatriots, but here in the South I have abandoned a colourful and "slightly democratic" party, Fianna Fáil, because I receive something from Sinn Féin that is not otherwise available to me: representation.
The effective choices I have are: (a) the PDs with their pimply-faced undergraduate philosophy of "business interests uber alles"; (b) Fianna Fáil (of which I was once a member), who are not interested in anyone who is not either a rough-cut builder with his belly hanging out over his belt or an IT millionaire; (c) Labour, who mean well but are about as much use as pork sandwiches at a mosque picnic; (d) the Greens - ditto; (e) Fine Gael: Fianna Fáil with farmers instead of builders.
Along comes Sinn Féin - and guess what? No sickening piety about "democratic process" or "the will of the people". No bourgeois lecturing of the masses about their duty to the State while deploying its resources to the benefit of your sponsors in big business and the upper classes. Just effective representation.
Mr Rooney asks how people can vote for Sinn Féin given its record and connections. I can only answer for myself. I don't care. - Yours, etc.,
DAVID SMITH, Harmonstown Road, Artane, Dublin 5.
Madam, - I would like to congratulate Fintan O'Toole on his succinct description of the motives of Sinn Fein/IRA (Opinion, January 11th), which has used the political process to try to justify retrospectively its 30 year campaign of murder and terror. During that campaign nobody except the most bloodthirsty nationalist considered it led the "struggle against British occupation of Ireland".
It is now time for the people of the Republic of Ireland to speak loud and clear on the issue of Sinn Féin denial of IRA criminality. People should shun their Sinn Féin representatives. Don't vote for them. Don't support them. Don't include them in your community until the IRA disbands and surrenders to the will of the citizens of this State. - Yours, etc.,
JOHN KENNY, Ranelagh, Dublin 6.
Madam, - If Martin McGuinness is so adamant that the claims made by the PSNI Chief Constable, Mr Hugh Orde, that the IRA perpetrated the Northern Bank robbery are untrue, surely Sinn Féin should insist that its comrades in the IRA offer an informed opinion as to who else might stand accused of the robbery. It would be an added bonus if the IRA denial was worded in simple English and free of the usual Sinn Féin obfuscation. - Yours, etc.,
MICHAEL CULLEN, Albert Park, Sandycove, Co Dublin.