Madam, - With reference to your front-page headline that "PDs are pivotal in moves to form new coalition" ( The Irish Times,May 31st), it seems to me outrageous that a party that has been so repudiated by the electorate should be granted any role in forming the next government.
In the last Dáil the PDs, with a mere handful of seats, were given control of several key government departments in payment for their support of Bertie Ahern's ambitions. Those departments included Justice, which Michael McDowell speedily changed in all but name to the Department of Law and Order. Are we now to tolerate an even greater travesty of democracy as Fianna Fáil offers the politically bankrupt remnants of the Progressive Democrats whatever they want as the price for their support?
This truly makes a mockery of the claim that proportional representation advances democracy by its protection of the rights of the minority. - Yours, etc,
ANN HIGGINS, Monterey, Massachusetts, USA.
Madam, - With the re-opening of the Mahon Tribunal we have an explanation for Bertie Ahern's Sunday-morning dash to the Phoenix Park to dissolve the 29th Dáil. This led to the immediate suspension of the tribunal, with the result that we had cast our votes before we learned that Mr Ahern's statement about his personal finances was contradicted by the bank's records.
To a politician this may seem like a shrewd manoeuvre. To someone who gets a chance to vote on his country's political future once every five years, being starved of relevant information seems more like a dirty trick and a way of subverting democracy. - Yours, etc,
MICHAEL WILLIAMS, Grosvenor Square, Dublin 6.
Madam, - Recent disclosures and commentary emanating from the reconvened Mahon tribunal must surely raise questions about the integrity of the Irish democratic process. How can it be acceptable in a democracy that matters no longer directly relevant to the actual outcome of the election might potentially influence the formation of a government? - Yours, etc,
RONAN TOBIN, Swords, Co Dublin.
Madam, - In recent days it has been widely reported in the media that Bertie Ahern's preferred option for a stable government is a coalition with the remains of the PDs and "like-minded" independents.
I am quite surprised to note that none of those blasted meddling journalists and pesky political pundits have drawn attention to the irony of this desire.
Since Michael Lowry's past indiscretions have been obliterated by collective political amnesia, let's consider Beverly Flynn's possible contribution to the coalition of the like-minded. If RTÉ is successful in its latest efforts to recoup the legal costs accrued during Ms Flynn's failed libel case against the broadcaster, Ms Flynn will be declared financially bankrupt and will therefore be obliged to vacate her Dáil seat. Hardly an ideal situation for a prospective government which is emphasising stability. - Yours, etc,
NOEL NEARY, Tulrahan, Claremorris, Co Mayo.
Madam, - I did not vote for any Labour Party or Sinn Féin party candidates and hope they have no part in any executive. Fianna Fail's Mary Hanafin got my first preference vote in the 2002 and 2007 general elections. I vote for her because I know she has a basic respect for all human life. I canvassed for Michael McDowell in both general elections for this reason. For the same reason I am proud to be an Irish citizen when I see our President and Taoiseach represent our country abroad because I believe as individuals they too have a basic respect for all human life.
Both the Labour party and Sinn Féin are unique in having a policy to advocate for full legal abortion rights in Ireland. I think when individuals advocate for legal abortion rights they qualify their respect for human life. They may respect some human life but not all of it.
I think the Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael parties should negotiate a programme to form a stable government. The majority of our people voted for Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael candidates. I think the small economic policy differences between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael can be negotiated by them to form a programme for a stable government. I believe the majority of the Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have a basic respect for all human life. By forming and supporting a government they keep the Labour Party out of power and do not need to worry about the consequences of Sinn Féin supporting them.
The real and increasingly irrelevant differences between these two political parties is history. Unlike the Taoiseach and Mary Hanafin I cannot claim a Fianna Fáil family background. On the contrary, I am a grandson of the late Dr Michael Tierney, co-founder of the Fine Gael party, and like Michael McDowell I am also related to Prof Eoin McNeill, our first Minister for Finance, so I know my history. I think it is time these parties started to think about this proposal. - Yours, etc,
MARTIN TIERNEY, Marlborough Road, Glenageary, Co Dublin.
Madam, - The Labour Party Women Chair conveniently fails to mention (May 31st) the impressive statistic relating to the PDs, who have a 50 per cent female representation in the Dáil.
Furthermore, it should be pointed out that Fianna Fáil is now allowing women to run for election, albeit with one foot tied behind their backs, as illustrated in the Dublin Central constituency. - Yours, etc,
RONAN CAHILL, Ranelagh, Dublin 6.
Madam, - Cyprian Brady has just been elected a TD having received a mere 939 first-preference votes. I hold no candle for any political party, nor do I have anything against the man or his politics, but this is nothing less than an outrage. I only hope that his election is the catalyst for a complete overhaul of the electoral process. - Yours, etc,
DEREK HOPPER, Waterloo Lane, Dublin 4.
Madam, - Having been actively involved in the recent general election as a Fine Gael footsoldier, I wish to make the following suggestions. Each local authority should be specifically funded in order to maintain the register of electors accurately. A computer expert should be employed to prevent electors being registered in more than one place - PPS numbers could be used as a unique identifier. Surely it is possible that death certificates containing a PPS number could be forwarded to each local authority so people who have died could automatically be removed from the register.
The register of electors in my area of Co Limerick was riddled with inaccuracies. People were removed who had moved only a few houses down the road, people long dead remained on the register and many others were registered more than once. Surely we could apply some of the funds and brains of the Celtic Tiger and come up with a better way to produce a more accurate register. - Is mise,
PETER DOYLE, The Fairways, Castletroy, Limerick.
Madam, - Enda Kenny and Pat Rabbitte should think long and hard about their ambition to lead the next government. There are ominous signs on the horizon for the economy. In the next few years, I suspect, rising oil prices will continue to push up inflation and add to our energy costs. Our exports will continue to decline. Foreign companies which have been here for many years are getting itchy feet. The construction industry, long the backbone of the Celtic Tiger, is heading for meltdown. People with 100 per cent mortgages will not be able to meet their repayments and the banks will repossess properties, not caring who will be left destitute.
It is not a very promising scenario for the new government. The outgoing coalition is to blame for much of what is to come. It should be left to stew in a cauldron of its own making. - Yours, etc,
BRENDAN M. REDMOND, Hazelbrook Road, Terenure, Dublin 6W.