Madam, – How long must we wait for Fianna Fáil to understand that its leadership is of no consequence to the majority of the electorate (recent polls). The country is concerned about our collective future, yet Brian Cowen still chooses to resign from the wrong position. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Fianna Fáil finds itself in this position because its leader asked himself the wrong question. Instead of asking himself “Can I remain as leader?”, he should have asked “Should I remain as leader?” – Yours, etc,
Madam, – I imagine the following quote from Samuel Beckett's Worstward Hosums up the recent debacle within the Fianna Fáil party: "No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." – Yours,etc,
Madam, – Despite the clamour and ranting of the Opposition in the Dáil and the reckless threat of anarchy by the union leaders, the Minister for Finance and his department cleaned up the financial establishment and produced a budget and a four-year financial plan that gained support across Europe.
Mr Cowen, at the head of this endeavour suffered and deflected continuous wild attacks in the Dáil and in the media,particularly from The Irish Timesand the RTÉ flagship 6.01 Newsand Prime Time. The attacks, like the tide, came in endlessly day after day until the fear of political destruction caused the FF TDs to panic. In the end Mr Martin produced the knife and the largely politically ignorant public rejoiced in the streets. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – First we had Nice 1 followed by Nice 2; then Lisbon 1 followed by Lisbon 2; and now it’s Fianna Fáil Leader 1 followed by Fianna Fáil Leader 2, and maybe even Fianna Fail Leader 3, etc. Yours, etc,
Madam, – In Charles Haughey's final address to the Dáil nearly 19 years ago he quoted from Othello"I have done the state some service, they know it, no more of that". Perhaps we can look forward to Brian Cowen quoting from Hamlet: "Though this be madness, yet there is method in 't" to explain his tenure. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Even in a week exposing the remarkable capacity for self-delusion of the Fianna Fáil banditti, Mary Coughlan's assertion that she was not putting her name forward for the leadership was quite amusing. May I also take this opportunity to state that I will not be contesting the leadership battle? While I'm at it, it is with regret that I inform Mr Trapattoni that I am no longer making myself available for international duty due to family commitments. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Beleaguered Imploding Fianna Fáil Organisation? Bizarre Incomprehensible Fiasco For Outsiders! – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Whatever the trigger, it’s hard not to read Brian Cowen’s resignation as yet another manifestation of the self-interest endemic to Fianna Fáil – as the rank and file deserting their leader, having decided that last-ditch positioning for the election is more important than the national interest. (getting the Finance Bill through the Dáil). – Yours, etc,
Madam, – I would like to beg Brian Cowen to take back his resignation as leader of the Fianna Fáil party. It would not be the strangest thing to happen in politics this week.
With the country in the mess it is in there is some relief in watching what has being going on in Government Buildings. John Cleese could not write a better episode of Fawlty Fáilif he wanted to. With Mr Cowen gone, we are not going to get a sequel and will have to go back to listening to depressing news about IMF and so on. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Cabinet half empty? Glass half full. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – With no exaggeration: a class of ordinary transition year students would have run the country more competently and with more dignity than the current Government. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Last year the Finance Bill was put through the Dáil in a total of eight sitting days. On each of these days, debate on the Bill took up approximately a third of the allotted time.
Therefore, despite what we are being told, it is entirely possible for the Finance Bill to be debated, amended and passed in the space of a week by a Dáil sitting Monday to Friday, the same working week as the rest of us.
Is that really so much to ask? – Yours, etc,
Madam, – There are two noteworthy events scheduled for this week: 1. The Finance Bill’s passage through the Oireachtas; 2. The Fianna Fáil leadership election.
I feel the media could be of better service to the public by focusing on the former as surely it is of far more consequence to citizens and businesses in 2011 than the latter. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Just after the news on Thursday I became aware of this shuddering groaning noise some distance away, I would compare it to the slight quake we had a few years ago. Then it dawned on me what it really was – Éamon de Valera turning in his grave. – Yours, etc,