Sir, – I agree with your political editor Stephen Collins's assessment that Sinn Féin is casting a dark shadow over Irish democracy (Opinion & Analysis, March 14th).
I also agree that it is time for Fine Gael strategists to find their moral compass. Fine Gael needs to stop talking up Sinn Féin’s chances of winning the next election.
As Mr Collins points out, the next election is not a binary choice between Fine Gael and Sinn Féin.
Fine Gael’s insistence that it is (as first articulated by Leo Varadkar during the counting of votes in the local elections 2014) more about its small-mindedness in defeating Fianna Fáil. Not only is this strategy morally repugnant to all right-minded people, it will ultimately fail. Fine Gael will find itself relegated to third place unless it changes its approach. – Yours, etc,
JOHN KENNY,
Monkstown Valley,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – Stephen Collins writes that, “Many people appear to have succumbed to amnesia over the appalling events of the Troubles and the role played by some of the current leadership of Sinn Féin”.
I would be quite relieved if Sinn Féin’s progress in the opinion polls was down to amnesia. My gut feeling is that a substantial number of Irish people, both North and South, have no problem with the “appalling events”.
If I am correct, then the future is bleak indeed. – Yours, etc,
ROBERT BATES,
Delgany,
Co Wicklow.