A chara, - While the results of the Seanad election evoked elation in Labour, and relief in Fianna Fáil, they are surely ominous for Fine Gael, which despite its self-satisfaction of late, is fast running out of options for future contests.
Having suffered heavy defeats in the 2004 local elections, it was widely expected that Fianna Fáil would lose one seat on each of the five vocational panels, most likely to Fine Gael, given the latter's increased strength in both county councils and the Dáil. That FF held on to three of these under difficult circumstances was a fairly impressive achievement. However, that Fine Gael realised none of these gains and actually ended up losing a seat was disastrous.
In sharp contrast to the outcome of the general election, the decision by Labour to abandon FG and instead agree a voting pact with Sinn Féin yielded three extra seats for the two left-wing parties, leaving the Mulligar accord dead and buried and Guns 'n' Roses as the new show in town. With FF and the Greens happily saving the planet together and the PDs on their lap of honour, who has Enda left to dance with now? - Is mise,
DAVID CARROLL, Castle Gate, Dublin 2.
Madam, - Your report of Rónán Mullen's Seanad election victory (The Irish Times, July 27th) claimed that Mr Justin Barrett, "a former Youth Defence spokesman", was among our supporters at the count centre. This is not true.
Mr Barrett was never part of our campaign and to our almost certain knowledge he was not present at the count. - Yours, etc,
Dr ANDREW O'CONNELL, (Rónán Mullen Campaign Manager), Lucan, Co Dublin.
The error is regretted. - Ed, IT.