A Chara, - Bertie has now negotiated the Greens, the rough (Jackie Healy-Rae) and the smooth (Michael Lowry). He has answered questions about his driver, ironed out any problems, and looks to be out of the woods. Unless there are problems with an awkward lie, it looks as if he will be celebrating tournament victory with a free drop in Fagan's. - Is mise,
LOMAN Ó LOINGSIGH, Ellensborough Drive, Kiltipper Road, Dublin 24.
Madam, - By entering government with no concessions on major Green demands - such as an end to hospital co-location, US military use of Shannon, corporate donations, the M3 at Tara - the party has laid itself wide open to the charge of abandoning principles in pursuit of power.
The public self-sacrifice of leader Trevor Sargent was necessary to provide a fig-leaf of principle to an otherwise naked Green Party. - Yours, etc,
PETER MOLLOY, Haddington Park, Glenageary, Co Dublin.
Madam, - The Greens must be applauded for their decision to enter government with Fianna Fail, not least because it is a triumph of hope over experience.
Many bitter pills are being swallowed by their supporters: the M3 motorway and the constant presence of the PD sediment in government, to name just two. But the Green glass is half-full, not half-empty, and maybe the grass will be greener on the other side of the hill. - Yours, etc,
PATRICK O'BYRNE, Shandon Crescent, Phibsborough, Dublin 7.
Madam, - Archaeologists worldwide have stressed the universal importance of Tara to our Irish and European heritage.
On these grounds the Green Party appeared to take a moral stand and we voted accordingly. It now appears that this moral issue has been abandoned in favour of joining government, thus sharing responsibility for the destruction of our irreplaceable heritage. - Yours, etc.
ANNE MADDEN LE BROCQUY, LOUIS LE BROCQUY, Carlisle Street, Dublin 8.
A Chara, - Your rather begrudging Editorial about the new Government (June 14th) at least continues the "Oh My God, I can't believe that they'd re-elect Fianna Fáil" line that you've been peddling for the past six months.
This will be a radical Government that will seek to address climate change issues, health service reform and a long-needed overhaul of local government. At the same time, it will continue to develop the new relationships on these islands and protect the economic gains of recent times. The politicians leading those changes are of diverse political views but all have a capacity for vision.
As a member of Fianna Fáil, I salute Trevor Sargent of the Greens for his leadership and integrity and am certain he will play a key role in shaping Ireland's future in this administration.
This Government will face difficulties, but I am confident that, at the end of five years, all the parties involved will look back with pride on what has been achieved together. No amount of "tut-tutting" in your Editorials will be able to take away from a highly positive programme for government or from the ambitions and optimism of the parties involved. - Is mise,
Cllr MALCOLM BYRNE, Gorey, Co Wexford.
Madam, - I voted for issues and individuals in the recent General Election. I voted for Fianna Fáil and the Greens.
I recognise Ireland's progress under our high-performing market economy. This needs to be sustained. I also support social protection for the vulnerable and marginalised in our society and the environmental protection of our rich natural resources.
Progress and profit has to be alongside philanthropy and protection in pursuit of more equitable development and social justice for all those living in Ireland in 2007. - Yours, etc,
BREDA GAHAN, Cabra, Dublin 7.
Madam, - The following is taken from the Green Party's election manifesto: "In government, the Green Party will ensure that Mary Harney's plans for the building of private hospitals on public land are scrapped. By halting the slow privatisation of our health service and through targeted investment in our public health system, we will deliver a health system which is more efficient, more equitable, and with better outcomes for patients."
It beggars belief that not only are the Greens willing to renege so quickly on such a key election promise but they actually intend to support and sustain a government that will do the complete opposite.
Farewell, Greens, it was a lovely dream. - Yours, etc,
JIM O'SULLIVAN, Rathedmond, Sligo.
Madam, Contrary to what John Water's might believe (Opinion, June 11th), I and many others like me preferred a Fianna Fáil/Green Party coalition for government.
It is not difficult to appreciate why young people would choose such a partnership. Fianna Fáil might be the party of our parents and family traditions yet the environment and public transport are also issues of considerable importance us.
Centre-left sums up the political positioning of much of the youth of Ireland and this government fits that bracket rather neatly. - Yours, etc,
MICHAEL KEARY, Aberystwyth, Wales.
Madam, - Rarely has an aphorism - in this case "power corrupts" - been so vividly evinced as on the Irish political stage this week. It appears that the leaders of the Green Party have capitulated on both the substance and spirit of their manifesto, agreeing (among other things) to run a motorway through Tara's archaeological complex.
The Green Party is now an abject creature, shivering at the heel of Fianna Fáil. - Yours, etc,
J. DONNELLY, Balbriggan, Co Dublin.
Madam, - Distributive justice demands of a government that all citizens are fairly treated. However, in the pursuit of power Bertie Ahern has completed so-called sweetheart deals with independent TDs by offering them millions of euro in taxpayers' money in the form of better government-controlled services such as healthcare facilities and roads for their constituents .
This is blatantly unjust to other Irish citizens who voted for the national interest and now find that they are penalised for so doing. Is this practice really any different from the "brown paper bag" syndrome? - Yours, etc,
BRENDAN BUTLER, The Moorings, Malahide, Co Dublin.
Madam, - In the past two weeks, quite a number of your correspondents have referred to the electorate's rejection of the PDs. Perhaps they were given ballot papers in a very different format to the one I was handed, for I have no recollection of being able to specify which candidates to reject. Personally, I voted for a party whose mandate included the option of going into government with the PDs. Some 41 per cent of the country did likewise with their eyes open to the possibility of a PD coalition.
Without a PD candidate in my constituency, I was unable to vote directly for the party directly responsible for transforming Ireland from a country of high unemployment, poverty and emigration to one of full employment, prosperity and net inward migration. I just wish I'd realised that I had the opportunity to reject those parties who would like to take us back to the dark days. - Yours, etc,
COLIN R. COOPER, Ballineen, Co Cork.
Madam, - Is it tenable that an elected representative, Mr Jackie Healy-Rae, should withhold the detail of an agreement with the Taoiseach, describing it as a "private, personal document for the people of south and south-west Kerry" - one that I have no doubt the people of Dublin South-East and all other 48 constituencies will be paying for? - Yours, etc,
JOHN O'CONNOR, Garville Lane, Dublin 6.
Madam, - We read that Bertie Ahern has obtained the support of a number of independent TDs for the formation of a new Fianna Fáil-dominated government and in return has agreed that substantial infrastructure expenditures will be made in their constituencies. Is it morally, or even legally, appropriate for State money to be committed in this way to bring about what is clearly a party-political outcome? - Yours, etc,
JEREMY GILBERT, Dunkelly West, Goleen, Co Cork.