Madam, - Ciaran Mac Aonghusa (November 3rd) seems to suggest that Fine Gael is rewarded with opposition by the people because of its policies or how it articulates them. I disagree.
The electorate reserves a special place in its heart for Fine Gael. It is, as it were, the national car mechanic, the national lifeboat service and the national ambulance service. The party gets us out of a fix and we are temporarily grateful, but once it has done its duty we turn again to more colourful companions.
The Irish economy now seems to be motoring well since its last NCT under Fine Gael management, when the Rainbow Government set it fair on its present course.
Until the next time Fianna Fáil drives it into the ground, the electorate is happy to leave the slightly raffish, somewhat undisciplined, ethically inert wheeler-dealers in charge. But when the crunch inevitably comes, the old cry will again go out across the land: "Send for Fine Gael!" - Yours, etc,
HUGO BRADY BROWN, Stratford on Slaney, Co Wicklow.