A chara, - Garret FitzGerald's argument (Opinion, October 21st) that turnout in general elections declined between 1987 and 1997 partially due to the perceived absence of a combination of parties having the prospect of securing a Dail majority is strange to say the least.
In 1987, there was a 73.3 per cent turnout. Fianna Fail was seeking an overall majority. There was no alliance of other parties. Dr FitzGerald himself proposed a Fine Gael-Progressive Democrat ticket, but this was rejected by the new party.
Two years later, there was a FG/PD alliance in the run-up to the election, facing Fianna Fail, again seeking a majority. The turnout fell to 68.5 per cent.
In 1992, the turnout was again 68.5 per cent, even though there were no pre-election pacts, although John Bruton assumed that Fine Gael, Labour and the PDs would team up, without consulting Dick Spring.
In 1997, we saw the clearest choice of possible governments going to the electorate - FG/ Labour/DL on one side and FF/ PD on the other. The turnout fell to 65.9 per cent.
There are, I believe, many reasons why turnout is falling - loss of faith in politics, changing lifestyles making it more difficult to actually go and vote - but I don't think that not knowing the exact colours of the next coalition deters any citizen from going to the polls.
I do, however, share Dr FitzGerald's concerns at the undue influence of independents.
Is it right, for instance, that four independents, each with a narrow constituency-based focus and little regard for the national interest, who between them polled just 1 per cent of the national vote, can continue to have such undue influence on Government policy and spending? - Is mise,
Malcolm Byrne, Fianna Fail member, Gorey Town Commissioners, Ramsfort Avenue, Gorey, Co Wexford.