Sir, – Paul Delaney (June 16th) suggests that since there is little difference, if any, between our two Civil War "political" parties, and in order to halt a possible Sinn Féin-dominated alliance in Irish governance, both parties should merge.
He does both parties a cruel disservice. There is little doubt that some Fianna Fáil members will prefer to put milk in their tea first and, on the other hand, some Fine Gaelers will shudder at the thought of having sugar in their tea, ever.
Think also of the sense of loss to our electorate of being deprived of the enjoyment of voting for such music-hall inspired entities as “The Soldiers of Destiny” and “The Family of the Irish”.
Electorates throughout the world have the option of voting for socialism, liberalism, conservatism and nuanced variations of these and other political philosophies and, generally, they know what they are voting for because political parties “do what it says on the tin”. Here in Ireland, we have two main tins but, unfortunately, both are blank (and probably empty). – Yours, etc,
LIAM MURRAY,
Kelston,
Foxrock, Dublin 18.
A chara, – Geoff Scargill may disagree with Paul Delaney’s assertion that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are two sides of the same coin. However, there is little “difference between the party that drove this State into the worst financial crises in its history” and the party that supported them through the so-called Tallaght strategy.
While Fine Gael may have “garnered increasing respect for us on the world stage”, it should perhaps be more concerned with its own electorate. – Is mise,
MAITIÚ de HÁL,
Cearnóg an Ghraeigh,
Baile Átha Cliath 8.