Fine Gael leadership challenge

Madam, – So, Mayo has finally won a big match in Dublin. – Yours, etc,

Madam, – So, Mayo has finally won a big match in Dublin. – Yours, etc,

JOHN McDWYER,

Summerhill,

Carrick on Shannon,

Co Leitrim.

Madam, – Two votes of confidence this week – one on the Government and one on Enda Kenny. Two pyrrhic victories. Well done to all concerned! We deserve you. – Yours, etc,

PAUL RYAN,

Mount Fair,

Tallow,

Co Waterford.

Madam, – How is it that, especially in the current climate, we continue to tolerate party politics? The Fine Gael infighting highlights, once again, that in the minds of our politicians, the party always takes precedence over the country.

I think there are a few hundred thousand people who would argue that there are more important issues at stake at the moment than who is going to be poster boy.

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I couldn’t care less if the country was run by a hamster leading a team of gerbils, as long as they got the job done!

We have a general election coming, the sooner the better, and I propose that we vote in a government of independents.

At least they might be more interested in getting the country back up off its knees as opposed to how they can sell their party for re-election. – Yours, etc,

TIM McDONNELL,

Harbour Road,

Howth,

Co Dublin.

Madam, – The decision of Fine Gael to split at this time must rank as one of the most stupid decisions imaginable, even for politicians. If there is one thing the electorate will not buy it’s a divided party.

I’ve had plenty of experience of that as a long-standing member of the UK Labour party where we fought like cats in a sack and paid the price at the polls, until Thatcher mark two, Tony Blair, came along.

As a member of the party here, I was looking forward to a Labour-Fine Gael government. I bet Brian Cowen can’t believe his luck. The best we can hope for now is a Labour/Fianna Fáil coalition in spite of what our esteemed leader keeps saying. Let’s hope it’s not a Fianna Fáil/Labour combination. – Yours, etc,

JAMES MORAN,

Knockanure,

Bunclody,

Co Wexford.

Madam, – Nothing illustrates the mentality of politicians and the reason the country is heading down the drain better than the current Fine Gael leadership squabble. It has nothing to do with the most efficient running of the party any more than all the previous Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael (or any other party) activity had anything to do with the proper running of the country.

It is exclusively about power and their own pockets. One iota of intelligence, integrity or management ability in any of them would have resulted, in this case, in Enda Kenny’s fast and honourable resignation, resulting in a new leader and a clearly far better hope of a good election result.

In the case of the country, it would have resulted in Fianna Fáil’s fast and honourable resignation and some hope of a better economic future for all of us. As it is, a literally hung parliament is beginning to look like our only hope. – Yours, etc,

RD BANTON,

Kevin Street,

Tinahely,

Co Wicklow.