Madam, - Tim O'Halloran (May 31st) claims that the PDs are the party of the ruling classes. I beg to differ.
Since before the creation of the party its future leader Des O'Malley stood by the people on the issue of contraception. He went on to challenge transport legislation, creating the system we now have where people can get to London, Rome, Paris or Madrid for less than the train fare to Galway. These examples of courageous reform set a trend that continued.
The PDs played a vital role in reforming an economy where young people had to leave the country or queue outside Abrakebabra without dignity for the one job on offer. Twenty years ago we had a third world economy. Now, for the first time we have 2 million people gainfully employed, the highest minimum wage in Europe, a great number of people outside the tax net and a decent standard of living for all.
Mary Harney stood up and dealt with nursing-home charges. Michael McDowell stood by the people when he alone debunked the farce that was Sinn Féin/IRA's claims of having reformed. It was his actions that highlighted their racketeering, robberies, and punishment beatings and forced them to decommission their weapons of terror.
I believe it is Mr O'Halloran who is wilfully naive if he does not believe the PDs deserve their place in this Government. - Yours, etc,
HUGH MURPHY, Elmwood Avenue, Dublin 6.