Madam, - It appears that Pat Rabbitte is stubbornly refusing to entertain any option for government apart from his first choice. He will not admit to any contingency plan in the event of the election results not coinciding with that first choice.
It seems to me that a party leader who does not allow the possibility of such eventualities, and will not say what he will do should they happen, is not the type of politician who deserves to be in government.
- Yours, etc,
NIAMH MULDOON, Tullyallen, Drogheda, Co Louth.
Madam, - Why is Pat Rabbitte the only party leader being interrogated about what he might or might not do in the event that the voters - who, after all, have the primary responsibility in this matter - decline to choose either the outgoing or the putative incoming coalition, and elect a Dáil in which neither has a working majority?
Is it straining logic to suggest that the degree of responsibility attaching to any political party in such circumstances might be related to the number of seats it holds?
- Yours, etc,
JOHN HORGAN, Clontarf, Dublin 3.
A Chara, - Labour leader Pat Rabbitte says he "cannot envisage any circumstances" in which he would lead Labour into coalition with Fianna Fáil, with deputy leader Liz McManus going so far as to say she would prefer another election.
Given that an FF-Labour Dáil majority is not only a certainty after the election, but is also quite likely to be the only stable option - circumstances which could clearly be "envisaged" by a wily political operator like Mr Rabbitte - it seems both logical and obvious that such a government could only be formed under a new Labour leadership. More to the point, after 10 years of stable partnership, it is doubtful that Bertie Ahern would want to work with such a belligerent and cantankerous character anyway.
Happily for everyone concerned, Brendan Howlin is keen to point out he has no such problems with either foresight or realpolitik, so the country might be spared a second general election after all.
- Is mise,
DAVID CARROLL, Castle Gate, Dublin 2.