DONAL O'SULLIVAN,
Sir, - I am writing to you on behalf of the rank-and-file members of Fine Gael here in Arklow, Wicklow. In its haste to elect a new leader (or more likely the haste of those wishing to be leader) it looks to me as if the party is yet again about to score an own goal.
Members have expressed considerable anger at any suggestion that we rush to elect a new leader without first taking the time to reflect on the outcome of the election. It is time for Fine Gael to decide firstly where it is actually going, rather than throwing another good leader to the wolves when the polls do not look favourable. It was agreed at the last Ard Fheis that the members would now be given a say in relation to any future leader and direction of the party and this sudden rush to replace the leader appears to us on the ground to be a blatant attempt to disenfranchise the ordinary members.
Since the election result we in Wicklow had had a large number of people both re-joining the party and joining for the first time. This is because they wish to see our party remain a force in Irish politics and mistakenly believed that, for the first time in a very long time, the ordinary members might actually have an input.
We hope the party takes these points on board. Speaking for myself, I have no intention in continuing my level of involvement if the views of the 25,000 members of our once great party are again ignored. - Yours, etc.
DONAL O'SULLIVAN, Secretary, Senator Mary Walshe Branch, Fine Gael, Ferrybank, Arklow, Co Wicklow.