Sir, – The focus on the role of Fianna Fáil in forming the next government is misplaced. The numbers will decide – just as in 1989 when Des O’Malley sat down with Charles Haughey, despite their history.
All of the polls suggest that the only viable coalition options after the next election will be Fine Gael and either Fianna Fáil or Sinn Féin. Fine Gael cannot baldly state that its future partner will be Labour, as this is near impossible.
Once the numbers emerge, policy differences will lose significance and Fine Gael will have to decide how much it wants to stay in power for an historic second term, while Sinn Féin’s elderly leadership will have to decide on taking office, or building for a possible future success in opposition. I suspect that pragmatism and high office will prevail and that the government formed will not have a continuity of ideas, but a “consanguinity of minds”.
Of the three main party leaders, Micheál Martin will be in the strongest negotiating position. Sinn Féin and Fianna Fáil are unlikely to have the numbers, so Fine Gael will then have to answer the questions now posed hypothetically to Fianna Fáil. – Yours, etc,
SEÁN RYAN,
Castleconnell,
Co Limerick.