Sir, – Why cannot Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael unite and form a government that would work in the best interests of the country for the next three years? How can a minority government, reliant on Independents and constantly compromised, be a better solution?
Both the main parties have a lot to make amends for and this could be their opportunity. Fianna Fáil walked us into what became the Celtic Tiger and its disastrous aftermath, and Fine Gael, despite being given a huge mandate on their promise of change and transparency, gave us little but U-turns when in government.
In the recent election, the Irish people were asked for and gave their opinion. They voted for Independents and for change because they had been let down by both major parties. Irish people do not want a health service where the sick and elderly suffer on trolleys as they wait for beds in what appears to be a badly run health service; they do not want to see people forced out of their homes as “vulture funds” pick the bones of our recovery; and they want an end to the situation whereby young families are forced to live in hotels and B&Bs because the State abdicated its responsibility to provide housing for its citizens.
The 1916 Proclamation stated that “The Republic guarantees religious and civil liberty, equal rights and equal opportunities to all its citizens, and declares its resolve to pursue the happiness and prosperity of the whole nation and of all its parts, cherishing all of the children of the nation equally”.
I believe that as a nation we have not lived up to these ideals, but we now have a chance to do so by forming a government of unity which takes these words as its manifesto. In doing so, we could build a fairer society for the whole nation and thereby truly honour and commemorate those who gave their lives for our Republic. – Yours, etc,
CATHERINE BYERS,
Glenageary,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – Perhaps our esteemed President could resolve the present political impasse.
He might call in the political leaders and ask them to get over their historical and tribal differences in the interests of the “ordinary people” (as RTÉ refers to us). – Yours, etc,
EDDIE O’REILLY,
Wexford.