Sir, – Mary Lou McDonald says that the decision of who leads as taoiseach must be placed in the hands of the people. Ms McDonald’s understanding of the relevant provisions in our Constitution has not improved since she held forth on the topic after the last general election. Then she was of the view that our elected TDs were frustrating the will of the people by choosing not to elect her as taoiseach.
We the people elect TDs and the TDs whom we send to the Dáil elect the taoiseach. That’s what happened in 2020 and it will happen again in a few weeks.
Should Ms McDonald ever have the numbers in Dáil Éireann, her time will have come. – Yours, etc,
PAT O’BRIEN,
Matt Williams: Take a deep breath and see how Sam Prendergast copes with big Fiji test
New Irish citizens: ‘I hear the racist and xenophobic slurs on the streets. Everything is blamed on immigrants’
Jack Reynor: ‘We were in two minds between eloping or going the whole hog but we got married in Wicklow with about 220 people’
‘I could have gone to California. At this rate, I probably would have raised about half a billion dollars’
Rathmines,
Dublin 6.
Sir, – Pat Cullen (Letters, March 21st) suggests Leo Varadkar might have drawn inspiration from Jurgen Klopp’s management of his departure from Liverpool FC in announcing his own departure from the offices of both Taoiseach and leader of Fine Gael. Staying with that train of thought, Simon Harris must surely be Xavi Alonso? – Yours, etc,
BRIAN QUIGLEY,
Drumcondra,
Dublin 9.
Sir, – The immediate response of political point-scoring by the leaders of the Opposition to the resignation announcement of Taoiseach Leo Varadkar should be kept in mind for the future. Especially for when they might be in government or their own careers come to an end.
Even on the occasion of the resignation of Charles Haughey, the leaders of Fine Gael, Labour, the Workers’ Party and the Progressive Democrats managed to be decent and make some considerate comments.
The leaders of the current Opposition parties showed that the increased coarseness that exists on social media is not exclusive to it.
There’s a lot of anger in the public discourse, there’s a lot of trading in fear and in hatred, and there is genuine suffering to be addressed. Yet while anger may be an energy, and much energy is needed to campaign, you can’t govern or convince people to adopt a solution to a problem through anger or fear or hatred. Especially when real-world solutions are imperfect, and most likely will inconvenience or negatively affect someone or some group. The leaders of the Opposition left themselves and the public down this week. – Yours, etc,
DANIEL K SULLIVAN,
Marino,
Dublin 3.
Sir, – Under Leo Varadkar, Fine Gael have spent an inordinate amount of time making sure that every minority interest in the world is considered and placed at the centre of every policy decision. The recent referendum result signifies a message from the majority that we would like to be treated as equal participants in our country. No more and no less. Fine Gael should elect a leader who will listen. – Yours, etc,
STEPHEN GLEESON,
Killiney,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – Clearly Sinn Féin or the Social Democrats or Labour do not understand the reality that the public does not elect a taoiseach. Dáil Éireann elects a taoiseach. – Yours, etc,
THOMAS MORRIS GORMALLY,
Rathangan,
Co Kildare.
Sir, – The decision to take a downward step in any occupation is a brave and difficult one, so Leo Varadkar is deserving of a little kindness and admiration, for a few days at least. – Yours, etc,
RITA O’BRIEN,
Lucan,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – I fail to see how the resignation of Leo Varadkar has surprised commentators.
The referendum result spoke for itself when the electorate gave an emphatic No vote.
The honourable thing to do was resign. – Yours, etc,
RORY TOWNSON,
Newry.
Sir, – Fine Gael now has a wonderful opportunity to nobble Mary Lou McDonald’s ambition to be the first female taoiseach by appointing one of its own female TDs to be leader, as she will automatically become taoiseach until the next election. Competence doesn’t matter. Just being a token woman will do the job. No doubt any of the Fine Gael women wouldn’t mind being the token woman to become the first female taoiseach. – Yours, etc,
NOREEN O’CARROLL,
Tralee,
Co Kerry.
Sir, – The shock resignation of Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and the subsequent appointment of a new taoiseach from the Fine Gael parliamentary party have raised concerns about the democratic process in Ireland. However, it is both disheartening and alarming to witness Fine Gael adopting the same undemocratic practices as the English Conservatives. The tradition of crowning a new leader within the party, rather than allowing the people to have their say through a general election, undermines the very essence of democracy.
Ireland’s democracy is not a mere spectacle for party elites to perform coronations; it is a solemn commitment to the will of the people.
Therefore, it is imperative that we call for change. It is time for a general election, where every citizen has the opportunity to cast their vote and shape the future of our nation.
Let us not forget the sacrifices made by those who fought for our democratic rights. Let us honour their memory by upholding the principles of democracy and ensuring that the voice of the people is heard.
Allowing the Fine Gael parliamentary party to appoint the next leader of our nation must simply be not an option when you consider that a third of those members are not standing in the next general election. It is time for change. – Yours, etc,
KILLIAN BRENNAN,
Dublin 17.
Sir, – Harry McGee describes Leo Varadkar in his twenties as a Christian Democrat and socially conservative (“Leo Varadkar: Clear-thinking, decisive politician without the common touch”, Analysis, March 20th). I cannot recall a single socially conservative statement or action made by Mr Varadkar during his political career. – Yours, etc,
ANDREW YOUNG,
Enniskerry,
Co Wicklow.
Sir, – With the news that Leo Varadkar is stepping down as leader of Fine Gael and Taoiseach, there will be much speculation as to his next career move, which he has referenced himself in his resignation speech. There is currently in many parts of the country a significant shortage of GPs and many that are practising are worryingly overstretched. Might Leo Varadkar consider entering general practice when he has had time and space away from the political frontline? – Yours, etc,
STEPHEN O’HARA,
Carrowmore,
Sligo.
Sir, – Did nobody tell the grim-faced Ministers surrounding the Taoiseach in Government Buildings that Wednesday was UN World Happiness Day? – Yours, etc,
HELEN NOONAN,
Ranelagh,
Dublin 6.
A chara, – With a third of his shipmates already bailing out, it still came as a shock that the captain himself should decide to jump ship.
Meanwhile his two first mates wait anxiously in the wings for the arrival of a new captain who can steady the vessel and bring her safely to port in a year’s time.
But could it be that Leo’s leap has left the current Government ship holed below the water line? – Is mise,
JOHN GLENNON,
Hollywood,
Co Wicklow.
Sir, – Leo Varadkar resigned because he was “no longer the best person for that job”. If that catches on, the country will shut down overnight. – Yours, etc,
TOMÁS FINN,
Ballinasloe,
Co Galway.
A chara, – Simon Harris has never worked in the “real” world. He was involved in local politics before he left school, and after school he studied journalism for a while at DIT, but dropped out. Then he worked as an assistant to Frances Fitzgerald in the Senate, before being elected to the Dáil himself.
Don’t we need a Taoiseach who has some experience of life outside the rarefied world of Leinster House? – Is mise,
ART Ó LAOGHAIRE,
Bray,
Co Wicklow.
Sir, – Soon Leo Varadkar won’t have to get up early in the morning. – Yours, etc,
JOHN COTTER,
Ferrybank,
Waterford.