Madam, - Now that Fianna Fáil seems destined to be in power forever, it is time to amend the Constitution and our electoral laws to match political reality. Fianna Fáil, as the natural party of government, should be permanently allocated 80 Dáil seats without the need to contest an election. Each of the 43 constituencies would also be able to select an independent, non-party TD so that potholes can be filled, piers rebuilt and buses to the pub be provided on an equal basis throughout the State.
That would leave about 40 seats for the existing parties. They would be free to contest elections or not, as they wished, mix and match members and titles as they wished (eg Progressive Sinn Féin and Provisional Democrats), or allocate all the available seats to the recently rampant Mé Féin Go Deo Party. Fianna Fáil supporters would still be allowed to vote for other parties so as to have a greater say in determining their future partners in government. Fine Gael would probably opt out of the electoral process to concentrate full-time on commemorating Michael Collins every August 22nd.
When the first Dáil under the new system assembled, Brian Cowen would be unanimously declared Future Taoiseach For Life, Beverley Flynn appointed Minister For Offshore Exploration, and Bertie Ahern acclaimed as Sole Supreme Socialist Soldier of Destiny.
We might miss the auld democracy bit, but we need never have to see an election poster again. - Yours, etc,
JERRY CROWLEY, Belgrove Lawn, Dublin 20.
Madam, - J Donnelly (June 15th) writes that "the Green Party is now an abject creature, shivering at the heel of Fianna Fáil" and that the Greens "capitulated on the spirit of their manifesto". She/he seems mistakenly to believe that a party's manifesto represents its bottom line for going into government.
The Greens have not "capitulated" on their beliefs, ideals, and policies but have recognised that a party with only 4.8 per cent of the vote would be mad to miss the opportunity to tackle the single greatest threat facing mankind - global warming - attempt to reform local government, and remove Dick Roche from the Department of the Environment.
The Green membership voted to go into government in the most democratic display of party politics in the history of this State. As a result, there is now a progressive voice within the Cabinet which is willing and determined to tackle the most pressing issues facing Ireland's future. - Is mise,
BARRA ROANTREE, Harristown, Hollywood, Co Wicklow.
Madam, - No doubt there are many voters concerned about the likely implications of the Taoiseach's decision to enter a coalition with the Greens. In many ways, it seems further confirmation that the environmentalist agenda is firmly in the ascendant. Fintan O'Toole, however, has offered some reassurance (Weekend Review, June 16th). He has reminded us that, for Mr Ahern, coalition-building is about affirming his political skills, and not about policies.
If the Greens are to be in government at all, it is best that they are in a government led by Mr Ahern. Only he possesses the political skills necessary to bind the Greens to government without succumbing to the whims and fancies of the eco-lobby. If he succeeds, he will indeed prove that he is master of all political operators. - Yours, etc,
DAVID SHIELS, President, Cambridge University Ireland Society, Cambridge, England.
Madam, - The decision of the Green Party to enter government with Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats represents a massive betrayal of its own voters and, in particular, the communities it represents. Five of the Green Party's six TDs represent Dublin and four of these five represent constituencies in the commuter belt area around the M50. This is no coincidence. Most of the people who voted Green did so because of their revulsion at the over-development, devoid of infrastructure, that has occurred in the commuter belt directly as a result of Fianna Fail's planning policies and the involvement in planning corruption of some of its members.
In my own commuter-belt constituency, fewer than 10 per cent of Green voters transferred their votes to Fianna Fáil while more than 60 per cent transferred to Fine Gael and Labour.
For years, the Greens have told us that "Green politics is clean politics" and that it was their mission to restore high standards to politics in Ireland. Now, however, they are prepared to join a coalition led by a Taoiseach with the most Byzantine finances since Charles Haughey and supported by TDs such as Beverley Flynn and Michael Lowry. By entering government, the Green Party has consented to being little more than a spare mudguard for Fianna Fáil to be used if the PD mudguard fails. - Yours, etc,
LEO VARADKAR TD (Fine Gael), Dáil Éireann, Dublin 2.
Madam, - Enda Kenny has accused the Green Party of adopting the FF election manifesto "lock, stock and three pork barrels".
Where was the leader of the Opposition when we and other community NGOs in Cork, Dublin and Meath were struggling against Fianna Fáil policy on incineration? What has he done to protect Tara? Where was he while Shannon was made a tool of war? Did he shout about the weakening of local councils or the lack of progress on Kyoto? The list continues. It seems to me that for much of the time he was either agreeing with Fianna Fáil or sitting on a comfortable fence with a large salary while others opposed, unpaid, for years.
There is little to distinguish the two largest parties and the Greens were always going to have to serve with one or the other. This small party has not abandoned its principles, but has chosen to implement what policies it can in accordance with its limited power. I applaud the courage of that decision and wish its six TDs well in government. - Yours, etc,
ROSIE CARGIN, Kinsale Environment Watch, Kinsale, Co Cork.
A chara, - There have been claims that Bertie Ahern's achievement in winning three elections in a row is unique.
I realise that history is written for the victors and by the victors. However, may I point out that after the murder of Michael Collins in August 1922, WT Cosgrave was appointed Chairman of the Provisional Government. He became president of the Executive Council of the Irish Free State on December 6th, 1922. He was returned to that position after general elections in August 1923, June 1927 and September 1927. - Yours, etc,
ANTHONY JORDAN, Gilford Road, Dublin 4.
Madam, - I read in Monday's edition that Mr Trevor Sargent has declared he is "absolutely" happy with the Taoiseach's word on his personal finances. I do not believe that Mr Sargent is as self-deluded as his endorsement of Mr Ahern's explanations would suggest. I believe his comments are an indication of how desperate the Green Party was to form part of the new Government.
His comments are in stark contrast to Mr John Gormley's bald statement in Dáil Éireann on June 3rd, 1998, during a debate on the tribunals, that Fianna Fáil was "up there with the Christian Democrats in Italy and the RPI in Mexico". The context of this statement was Mr Gormley's claim that Fianna Fáil were in the top five of the world's most corrupt political parties.
Mr Gormley's opinion has obviously been dramatically changed by the glint from his seal of office as Minister of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. - Yours, etc,
ALLAN SWEENEY, Orlagh Wood, Dublin 16.