Madam, - Elaine Byrne (Opinion Analysis, November 25th) attributes the split in Sinn Féin that resulted in the creation of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil to disagreement over Northern Ireland. In fact the split arose from the 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty which post-dated the 1920 Government of Ireland Act creating Northern Ireland.
A glance at the Treaty debates in the Dáil will show that it was the failure to achieve a republic, coupled with the oath of allegiance, that dominated discussion, with the North mentioned by only a few speakers, notably Seán McEntee.
On her wider point (that Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil should be willing to enter into coalition) I concur entirely, although her use of past electoral statistics is somewhat faulty.
At every election since Fianna Fáil entered the Dáil the Irish voter has consistently supported (by between 61 per cent and 84 per cent) a centre right option.
Since these two main parties offer ideologically indistinguishable policies why will they not be true democrats and give the electorate what they have (always) voted for? - Yours, etc,
DERMOT QUINN,
Glencarraig
Sutton,
Dublin 13.