Madam, - Fianna Fáil and Labour, suggests Fintan O'Toole (Opinion, May 29th). Fianna Fáil and Independents and PDs, to avoid acts of madness, thunders John Waters (Opinion, June 4th). Fianna Fáil don't deserve the "left" and will destroy the Greens, writes Vincent Browne (Opinion, June 6th). What about the PD qualities of conviction, integrity and courage?, pleads Colm O'Gorman (Head to Head, June 4th).
Nobody can accuse The Irish Times of not giving Bertie the full menu for a satisfying government. Personally, I'd go for the Fianna Fáil steak with a Green salad and a few Independent chips on the side. The Chateau PD 1986 is corked and is best avoided. - Yours, etc,
PATRICK O'BYRNE, Shandon Crescent, Dublin 7.
Madam, - John Waters writes: "For Fianna Fáil now to enter government in coalition with the Labour Party would be to, in effect, enter a coalition with The Irish Times under the ideological direction of Fintan O'Toole. To form a partnership with the Green Party would be like entering coalition with The Irish Times under the ideological direction of Frank McDonald."
Is it an uncharacteristic outbreak of modesty on the part of Mr Waters that makes him fail to complete the triad? Surely he should have added that for Fianna Fáil to enter government in coalition with the Fianna Fáil gene pool and "like-minded independents" such as Beverley Flynn and Michael Lowry would be in affect to enter a coalition with The Irish Times under the ideological direction of John Waters. One would like to think, indeed, that his role might be extended to include musical as well as political direction. Dare one entertain hopes of a Fianna Fáil anthem entitled Arise and Follow Bertie? - Yours, etc,
Senator DAVID NORRIS, Dublin 2.
Madam, - While one appreciates that the negotiations on a new administration must be conducted in a secure and confidential arena, is it in order that they are taking place in, and using the facilities and staff of, Government Buildings ?
These are essentially party political - not Government business - discussions between Fianna Fáil and its potential future partners. So far as we are aware, the other current-Government party, the Progressive Democrats, are not even involved directly in them.
Accordingly, should this political horse-trading not be conducted on party premises or in some similar more appropriate venue and in Ministers' own free, not working, time ? - Yours etc,
Dr NIGEL P. COOKE, (ex-Department of Finance), St Helens, Lancashire, England.
Madam, - Has Dermot Ahern's distaste for a "Dolly Mixture" of a coalition government, as expressed on May 26th, faded now that he is the one sucking the sweet? - Yours, etc,
JOHN O'CONNOR, Garville Lane, Dublin 6.
Madam, - It is beyond belief that the Green Party seems to be considering overlooking its opposition to Shannon's use as a base for war on Iraq.
I would be delighted to be proved wrong, but the signs are ominous. The Greens have claimed, with justification, to be about making a better and more human world; but this claim could not survive a compromise over Shannon.
In the breezy argot of the times, we were told on RTÉ on Tuesday that the Greens would need "a scalp" in the negotiations. They would not need to worry: the scalps are already piled high in Iraq. - Yours, etc,
JOHN MAGUIRE, Red Abbey Street, Cork.
Madam, - Ultan Murphy of Fianna Fáil (June 6th) is misinformed about climate change and its causes. The vast majority of climate scientists agree that global warming is due primarily to man-made emissions of CO2 and other gases. Mr Murphy describes this as "the cosy consensus around CO22 gas being the cause of global warming", but the consensus is genuine and based on the work of thousands of scientists.
Furthermore, there is nothing cosy about global warming for those in the poorest parts of the world who are already feeling the effects of droughts and floods.
For all our sakes I hope Mr Murphy's thoughts do not represent the Fianna Fáil party line and that the next government, whatever its composition, will introduce per capita carbon quotas or other effective measures to reduce our carbon emissions. - Yours, etc,
DAVID O'CALLAGHAN, Inglewood Drive, Clonsilla, Dublin 15.
A chara, - Jim O'Sullivan (June 6th) argues that the current attempts to form a coalition represent a move towards a "totalitarian form of democracy". He contends that people can vote, but have no influence on decision-making.
He misses the point that, had the people wanted to put it beyond Fianna Fáil's power to lead the process of government formation, they most certainly could have.
What is happening now is not an attempt to negotiate the people out of the decision-making process, but the negotiating of a compromise between parties which have secured an electoral mandate. Compromise between those in society with divergent views is to be welcomed as a mature way of dealing with differing agendas. It is not to be condemned. - Is mise,
CORMAC O'DEA, Braemor Park, Churchtown, Dublin 14.
A chara, - While continuing attempts are being made to form a new government without any input from Minister for Justice Michael McDowell, perhaps it would be appropriate to spare a thought for the left, the hard left, the leftovers and the left out. - Is mise,
ENDA FANNING, Churchtown, Dublin 14.