Madam, - Garreth McDaid (June 21st) describes Fine Gael as a dyed-in-the-wool right-wing party. He proposes that people should vote in parties of the left, including Sinn Féin.
My recollection, over 50 years, is that all governments led by Fine Gael - and they were all coalitions - were far to the left of the present combination. By and large they were good governments and they did not need the assistance of an armed vigilante wing. - Yours, etc.,
TOM RYAN, Dunmore Road, Waterford.
Madam, - Congratulations to Gay Mitchell on his election to the European Parliament.
He should need every penny of his first month's salary to pay for the fines he's incurring for not taking down his posters on time. - Yours, etc.,
M.J. STANDISH, Sandycove, Co Dublin.
Madam, - As a Labour candidate in the recent local elections (who didn't make it this time) I find myself agreeing with Breda O'Brien, for a change, on the subject of Kathy Sinnott (Opinion, June 19th).
I am the mother of an autistic boy of 17, and I want to congratulate her on her election to the European Parliament. She has done so much to highlight the difficulties faced by people with disabilities, particularly autism. Her views on divorce, etc., are irrelevant, I would think, to families coping with these problems every day.
Kathy Sinnott thoroughly deserves her success; her votes came from people of all political persuasions and none. I only wish she had a seat in the Dáil and Senate as well. - Yours, etc.,
ANGELA TIMLIN, Tivoli Parade, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin.
Madam, - Perhaps now that the local and European elections are behind him, Pat Rabbitte might consider putting his perpetual crankiness behind him as well.
I've become increasingly tired of his withering put-downs, whether directed at the Ceann Comhairle ("congenitally incapable") or pundits on an RTÉ election programme. The language used suggests an attitude completely at odds with the inclusive values which the Labour Party espouses.
Mr Rabbitte should remember that a sharp wit is one thing, bile is quite another. - Yours, etc.,
PETER BROWN, Stillorgan, Co Dublin.