Madam, - While the Taoiseach has led a Government responsible for many good things over the years, particularly in economic matters, his recent performance in relation to prior promises falls far short of what we expect from him.
He recently decided to welsh on a solemn promise about Third World aid. Now he tells us he has no choice regarding the release of the killers of Det Garda Jerry McCabe despite unambiguous promises from him and his Government colleagues that these people would not be released early. The Taoiseach does, of course, have an option in the matter. He can say No. The IRA cannot be permitted to dictate to our Government like this, no matter what.
There is no doubt in my mind that the vast majority of the citizens of this country do not want these people released early. If it comes to pass it will be a clear breach of trust by the Taoiseach. and he and his government must be made to pay a price. No doubt they will. - Yours, etc.,
PÁDRAIG KIERNAN, Marley Rise, Dublin 16.
Madam, - How many more "breakthroughs" and "final settlements" are we supposed to have in Northern Ireland? Is Bertie Ahern really so naïve that he really thinks releasing the killers of Jerry McCabe will make the slightest difference - or that the public are so stupid they can't see that all these "talks" are doing is making yet more dirty secret deals which will only backfire down the line?
The killers of Jerry McCabe murdered that man in cold blood and left his colleague to die and they should serve every last day of their sentences, full stop.
If any real progress had ever been made over the years then Sinn Féin/IRA would not have a problem giving up their arms and letting the world see them do it and the unionists would trust them. But Sinn Féin/IRA have shown by their actions they are not to be trusted, and the unionists are still acting like spoilt children, and neither government seems to have the guts to face up to either side.
So the rest of us are left to watch this farce, which no doubt we'll be going through again in a few years. - Yours, etc.,
DESMOND FITZGERALD, Canary Wharf, London.
A Chara, - The Taoiseach's message on the Fianna Fáil website states, in true socialist fashion: "We are the Party that puts people first; and we will not rest until we have built an Ireland that is generous, inclusive and truly cherishes all our citizens, young and old."
Mr Ahern's consideration of early release for the killers of Det Garda Jerry McCabe flies in the face of any semblance of cherishing our citizens. What of cherishing his solemn commitment to the Garda Síochána, the public and the family of Garda McCabe that these criminals would not receive early release?
The party that puts people first? Yes: the people who murdered Garda Jerry McCabe first and the Garda, the public and the family of Garda McCabe second. - Is mise,
ELAINE BYRNE, Crablane, Tullow, Co Carlow.
Madam, - When Ian Paisley called for the IRA to "wear sackcloth and ashes", Gerry Adams responded by saying that that the politics of humiliation do not work.
The relatives, friends and family of Garda McCabe must feel very humiliated by the Government going back on its word over the release of his killers.
The Sinn Féin leaders see themselves as radical visionaries in the grand tradition of Pearse, who stated that "the good of the nation means ultimately the good of the individual men and women who compose the nation". Can they be radical enough to apologise publicly or privately to the McCabe family? Are they radical enough to want to heal this divided country by such an action? I close with a quotation from the web-page of An Phoblacht: "Whoever is detected in a shameful fraud is ever after not believed even if they speak the truth. - Phaedrus."- Yours, etc.,
LOUIS HEMMINGS, Newtownpark Avenue, Blackrock, Co Dublin.
Madam, - In the negotiations over the release of Det Garda McCabe's killers, what provisions will be made for the re-imprisonment of these people, if or when the Northern Ireland Assembly collapses (again) in the future? - Yours, etc.,
FEARGHAL O'HANLON, Old Connaught Avenue, Bray, Co Wicklow.
Madam, - In your second Editorial of December 2nd you seem to agree that the Taoiseach and his Government should break their solemn word by facilitating the early release of the killers of Garda McCabe merely because SF/IRA demands it. If their release really is a "make-or-break" condition of the proposed deal in Northern Ireland then there should be no deal. The Government should never yield to blackmail.
Shame on you and your newspaper for advocating it. - Yours, etc.,
JAMES YOUNG, Glassely, Ballitore, Co Kildare
Glassely,
Ballitore,
Co Kildare