Sir, – Now that the law allowing courts to activate suspended sentences has been ruled unconstitutional, it is critical that a government capable of enacting emergency legislation is formed. This caretaker government is not capable in the face of this crisis. – Yours, etc,
PHILIP GLEESON,
Abbeyfeale,
Co Limerick.
Sir, – More than 50 days have elapsed since the general election and we still have no government. Because of that, no photograph of the Minister for Justice and the Garda Commissioner ensemble has appeared in The Irish Times over the same period. Is this a new record for both? – Yours, etc,
FM RUSSELL,
Ballyvaughan,
Co Clare.
A chara, – Given that it is now more than 50 days since the general election was called, I wonder will our Dáil sit for an extra month this summer to process what must now be a backlog of parliamentary Dáil business and legislative matters? – Is mise,
Dr CATHERINE
O’DONOHOE,
Enniscorthy, Co Wexford.
Sir, – It used to be believed that the world was composed of four elements. This may have been an oversimplification, but the idea still works pretty well as a rubric for modern political debate. From earth we get mud to be stuck in, or to fling. Air represents the speeches and promises; fire brings the aforementioned air to the preferred temperature. Water completes the set. Once the giver of life, it is now something we can’t wash our hands of. – Yours, etc,
COLIN WALSH,
Templeogue,
Dublin 6W.
Sir, – Am I the only one who is heartily sick of rural TDs banging on about how rural Ireland has been neglected and abandoned by successive governments? What about urban Ireland? What about the terrible deprivation that exists in parts of Dublin? Poverty and hardship do not start or end at the Red Cow roundabout! – Yours, etc,
PAUL DELANEY,
Dalkey, Co Dublin.
Sir, – Since Irish Water is such a major obstacle in government formation, what a relief it will be if the parties eventually pass it. – Yours, etc,
TONY CORCORAN,
Rathfarnham,
Dublin 14.
Sir, – There is a great deal that can be accomplished when people of goodwill put aside their differences and work together. We should support those TDs who seek agreement. – Yours, etc,
ANNE BYRNE,
Bray,
Co Wicklow.
Sir, – It would seem that we are now, sadly, ungovernable. Ireland is no longer a political landmass; it’s been fragmented into an archipelago of Independents – supported (ironically) by water! – Yours, etc,
OLIVER McGRANE,
Rathfarnham,
Dublin 16.
Sir, – I am trying to figure out what prevents Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael from uniting.
I understand that they took opposing sides on a split years ago and some unspoken animosity may linger deep within the psyche of each. Also I know issues of trust, dependability, resentment, reliability and begrudgery exist. Not forgetting of course, the personality clashes. The more I think of it, the more I realise – they really are just one big happy Irish family. – Yours, etc,
DARAGH MacDERMOTT,
Monkstown,
Co Dublin.