Sir, – Pat Rabbitte writes (July 16th) as though Labour's decision to go into Government has not contributed to the fragmentation of Irish opposition politics. The last election offered the opportunity that some people had been waiting for since the foundation of the State – the opportunity to push Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael together and then mount an position from a broad-left perspective. Instead Labour gave all the impression of not being able to get into government quick enough, regardless of what would have to be done and that it would mean abandoning a great many of the pledges it had made during the election campaign.
The contention that Labour in Government somehow contributed to innovative economic thinking is fantasy – it implemented the policies laid down in the bailout agreement to the letter.If Labour really was prepared to put responsibility before power, it would have stayed out; expedience would also have told its members there are some elections worth losing. It would now be in a position to transform Irish politics. Instead it chose the conservative option of maintaining the status quo at all costs, and is paying the price.
And the ultimate irony is that the role Labour could be playing has been handed over to the party Pat Rabbitte most detests, Sinn Féin. – Yours, etc,
EOIN DILLON,
Mount Brown,
Dublin 8.
Sir, – I consider Diarmaid Ferriter's article on Labour's woes and Pat Rabbitte's remarks on his decision not to contest the next general election as very unfair ("Labour's woes rooted in more than an ungrateful electorate", Opinion & Analysis, July 11th). It would take a great measure of stoicism to remain silent in the face of the anti-austerity phalanx over the last four years. Whenever I hear of the loss of Labour's identity or having "sold its soul" – in Ferriter's words – I cringe. Does he not acknowledge that in changing circumstances principles must be modified in coalition and in response to the changing needs of society? Or does he wish to follow the example of Greece?
To be fair, Ferriter does acknowledge Labour’s achievement in Government. Yet Irish society remains a very unequal one and corporate Ireland seems to get more dishonest by the day. And wouldn’t any responsible man in public life deserve a “whinge” about the fickle values of the electorate? Even Job, the model of patience, indulged in his lamentations. – Yours, etc,
JOHN F FALLON,
Boyle,
Co Roscommon.