Sir, - I have been awaiting with interest a visit from a politician since the start of this election campaign. To date I have not come in contact with one. There are numerous issues that are relevant to me.
I overlook a bay into which raw sewage is pumped every day, a practice which has been going on for generations. Some of our children attend primary school where there are 36 pupils in a class. We have had active discrimination against mothers who work in the home due to tax individualisation.
So much for building and planning for the future. Yet while important health, education and family welfare issues are sidelined, €2 billion is available to flood the economy in five years' time through SSIAs.
Speeding is illegal and "joyriding" has raised its ugly and tragic head again with several deaths recently, but the leader of our Government, while lamenting such behaviour, is carried round the country at reckless speed. This is explained away by being driven by "professional" drivers. Perhaps we could all start using this as a plea the next time we are prosecuted for speeding.
Billions have been given away in tax refunds, instead of being invested in deprived areas. The scourge of plastic bags has only recently been tackled, a relatively painless task easily accepted by the populace, but one which took a criminal amount of time to implement. The same applies to deregulating the taxi business. What is stopping such decisive behaviour being applied to other important issues, for example, the pub business?
Politicians do not seem to inhabit the same world as the electorate. Maybe their non-appearance at my doorstep is due to the fact that they are all aliens, and don't inhabit our world at all. - Yours, etc.,
DONAL DUNNE,
Newtown Hill,
Tramore,
Co Waterford.
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Sir, - We noted with interest the immediate sacking of a British MP for telling a racist joke at a rugby club dinner. Yet the Fianna Fáil TD Noel O'Flynn continues, unchallenged, to spout his anti-immigration rhetoric, which many consider racist and offensive. Far from being chastised for his views, he seems to have the support of the Fianna Fáil party as he is runs again in his constituency.
With the worrying growth of racism in Ireland, is it not time that Mr Ahern and his party explained why Mr O'Flynn continues to have their backing? - Yours, etc.,
KIRSTEN ROBERTS
and LINO OLIVIERI,
Haddington Square,
Dublin 4.
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A chara, - As polling day draws near, the various party leaders are falling over each other to highlight the pressing questions of the day. However, as in the Nice referendum last year, voter apathy may prove to be the key issue. An IMS poll from Sunday's The Week in Politics on RTE1 claims 50 per cent of 18- to 24-year-olds will not be voting on Friday. This bodes poorly for Irish democracy. The dangers of voter indifference were shown recently by the unprecedented electoral success of Jean-Marie Le Pen. The ambivalent position of those who took to the streets of France declaring "J'ai honté d'être Français", while at the same time admitting they had not voted in the presidential elections, was unfortunate to say the least.
The real shame lies in taking one's democratic right for granted. Let us hope that no such cloud of opprobrium hangs over Irish democracy in the aftermath of this election. - Is mise,
OLOF GILL,
Co-auditor,
European Society, UCC,
Western Road,
Cork.
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Sir, - The prospect of another five years of Fianna Fáil in government fills me with foreboding. The possibility single-party government makes me even more apprehensive. Surely the voters have not forgotten the litany of scandals, chicanery and skullduggery - not to mention the tax amnesties which rewarded tax evaders and probably legitimised the proceeds of crime.
Another five years of Fianna Fáil will undoubtedly mean more of the same as the party seems to be incapable of reforming itself. A change of government is essential if irreparable damage to the body politic is to be avoided. - Yours, etc.,
M.D. KENNEDY,
Silchester Park,
Glenageary,
Co Dublin.
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Sir, - After Reading Garret FitzGerald's column of May 11th, I must make one observation: given that it appears we are within a "Bertie Bowl" of going down the tubes, fiscally speaking, one has to ask why Fianna Fáil would even want to return to government? Poisioned chalice doesn't even begin to describe it. Perhaps hubris does.
Next Friday, 40-odd per cent of us will vote for the party. . .On a brighter note, another five years should ensure that we finally realise that a couple of terms on the Opposition benches are required. The parallels with the Thatcher years are alarming - short-sighted privatisation (Eircom); property boom (and bust?); corruption (need I say more?).
Equally, another five years without a Merc should teach a couple of people that the inappropriate use of anger doesn't make for either constructive or appealing Opposition. Nota bene, Michael and Ruairi! - Yours, etc.,
DENIS MORTELL,
Liberty Lane,
Dublin 8.
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Sir, - We were delighted to hear that both Nicky Byrne and Ronan Keating were supporting Fianna Fáil. If nothing else, at least Labour will be guaranteed the vote of real music lovers all over the country. - Yours, etc.,
ÁINE MORRIS,
Chair,
Labour Youth,
Ely Place,
Dublin 2.
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Sir, - With the general election coming up I find I watch less TV, listen to little radio and read only the sports pages. My quality of life has improved already. Thank you, politicians! - Yours, etc.,
DAVID R. NOBLE,
Foster Avenue,
Blackrock,
Co Dublin.