Sir, – Who needs breakfast roll man when you can have boilerplate man? Fine Gael knows it miscalculated badly when Enda failed to turn up at Montrose for the first big interview of the campaign. Knowing they can’t lock him away until polling day, the handlers have opted instead to hide him in plain sight, with a full set of one-size-fits-all answers he can recite for any occasion. Paddy knows the recovery story now; the question is whether he can put up with hearing it day in, day out, for the next three weeks. – Yours, etc,
KEALAN FLYNN,
Galway.
Sir, – The Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI poll showing that 63 per cent of the electorate would like to see a change of government does not surprise me ("Majority in favour of change, poll finds", Front Page, February 5th).
I would very much identify with this cohort of the electorate. However, I find myself in the position of being unhappy with the present government but not seeing any viable alternative at present. With the publicly expressed attitudes of both Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin to possible coalitions arrangements, it seems to me that the only alternative to the present government, however unpopular it may be, would be a coalition cobbled together from diverse groups and Independents. Yet such a government would be a recipe for instability and uncertainty.
So who to vote for must be a dilemma facing many of the electorate. – Yours, etc,
JOHN GILLEN,
Skerries, Co Dublin.
Sir, – It is quite clear from the Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI poll that, with 63 per cent of respondents stating that they want a change of government, the most likely outcome of the general election, at this time, is a Fianna Fáil/Sinn Féin coalition. The poll shows that Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin have a combined 40 per cent versus 35 per cent for Fine Gael and Labour. In the 2011 election Fine Gael and Labour had a seat bonus of 22.5 per cent (55.6 per cent of the vote delivered 68 per cent of the Dáil seats).
It is entirely possible that a similar seat bonus will accrue to Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin, giving them about 77 seats. In that situation it would not be difficult to form a government with an overall majority with the support of a few Independents, probably from the so-called FF gene pool.
Fine Gael will, of course, be the biggest party, but in the above situation, this would be irrelevant. Why would Micheál Martin opt to join in government with Fine Gael as the junior partner and as tánaiste when he could be taoiseach? As for Gerry Adams , who really believes that Sinn Féin would not want him standing to take the salute at the GPO as tánaiste?
Sinn Féin has worked with the DUP, and no doubt believes it will run rings around Fianna Fáil in government. – Yours, etc,
SHANE MOLLOY,
Dublin 6.
Sir, – Niall Ginty (February 3rd), clearly signalling his political allegiance in the forthcoming election by his scathing condemnation of the "outlandish policies of the left", while embracing the "professional diplomacy" of the government, asks if "anyone really believe that bleeding multinationals is the way forward?" May I ask Mr Ginty does he believe that bleeding overburdened PAYE taxpayers to make up the shortfall brought about by tax avoidance by some multinationals is the way forward?
The scale of tax avoidance schemes by highly profitable multinationals both in Ireland and elsewhere is, by any standards, unacceptable. Methods of tax avoidance include transfer pricing and the use of lower-tax jurisdictions where there was no commercial purpose to a transaction other than to avoid tax. These businesses may operate within the letter, but not the spirit, of the law. This tax avoidance not only deprives countries of much-needed tax revenue but undermines domestic compliance, as it may encourage other taxpayers to engage in tax avoidance as well. It is also unfair on tax-compliant domestic companies that cannot compete against non-compliant multinationals on level terms. So, if it is deemed to be “bleeding multinationals” by introducing and enforcing a fair and equitable tax regime, then yes, it is the way forward. – Yours, etc,
TOM COOPER,
Templeogue, Dublin 6W.
Sir, – In response to W Arthur Tanner's letter (February 5th) and his desire not to receive any election literature through his letterbox, the problem lies in the subjectivity of the term "junk mail".
I helped out delivering leaflets during previous election campaigns, and often faced this sign at people’s doors.
To me, junk mail means takeaway menus and leaflets for the local dry-cleaners.
No citizen with a civic conscience should consider election literature, which informs us about the policies, politics and intentions of future parliamentary members, to be junk.
W Arthur Tanner’s “petty but understandable” response will be to eliminate leaflet-delivering candidates from his preference voting. I am guilty of an equally juvenile response in a previous election where I eliminated any candidate who neglected to canvass my vote through letterbox literature.
I always thought that if people want positively no unaddressed items coming through their letterbox, then they should have a sign that says “Positively no unaddressed items”. – Yours, etc,
COLIN O’SULLIVAN,
Swords,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – Candidates should be aware that public service recruitment rules apply at my house – “canvassing will disqualify”! – Yours, etc,
RONAN CAHILL,
Ranelagh, Dublin 6.
Sir, – As I do not want to have my evening disturbed by politicians, I have put up a sign on the outer door – “No canvassers”. It has worked so far. – Yours, etc,
ANNE O’MAHONY,
Bishopstown,
Co Cork.
Sir, – Fine Gael has been the dominant party in government for the past five years. It is seeking re-election on the basis largely of its self-proclaimed competence in economic matters. Its leader was asked about the party’s expenditure plans. His response ran as follows, “I’m not going to get into economic jargon here because the vast majority of people don’t understand”.
I have a suggestion which might extricate the Taoiseach from this predicament the next time he is allowed within 50 yards of a microphone. He should, as chairman of the Economic Management Council, utter economic jargon for the benefit of the anoraks who understand it. He could then use his skills as a trained teacher to explain to the rest of us. – Yours, etc,
PAT O’BRIEN,
Rathmines,
Dublin 6.
Sir, – Does the Taoiseach include himself in the vast majority of people he believes do not understand economic jargon? – Yours, etc,
DERMOT
SHINNERS-KENNEDY,
Ballysimon,
Limerick.
Sir, – Regarding election posters, it is time that this outdated method of presenting party hopefuls is banned altogether. The explosion of many new media and social technologies provides an adequate and most likely a cheaper and eco-friendly alternative. – Yours, etc,
DEREK MacHUGH,
Bray,
Co Wicklow.
Sir, – Like many others I have seen the proliferation of election posters, which I do not like, but must tolerate. Sadly, though, I have also noticed the accumulation of old plastic ties left on poles from previous elections. Would it be too much to ask that all political organisations make a concerted effort to remove both old and new ties immediately after February 26th? – Yours, etc,
JOE BURNS,
Monkstown,
Co Cork.
A chara, – Candidates are listed on ballot papers alphabetically but there is an obvious advantage in being near the top of the ballot paper as voters will scan the list of candidate names from the top until they reach the first name that resonates with them. The names of candidates should be drawn randomly and placed accordingly on ballot papers. – Is mise,
JASON POWER,
Dartry, Dublin 6.
Sir, – Do we really want a government that is apathetic about the fact that we now live in a society where many of our people rely on insecure jobs (with no pay rises) for the income they need to cover the rocketing cost of housing, and where across the board tax cuts are prioritised over providing the supports needed to make our education systems truly accessible?
A rising tide does not lift all boats if there are holes left unpatched. – Yours, etc,
TOMÁS M CREAMER,
Ballinamore,
Co Leitrim.