Madam, – Sarah Carey’s comments “Angry men lack the courage of conviction” (Opinion, February 3rd) contained more political insight and democratic common sense than a month’s worth of Fintan O’Toole’s ramblings. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – The country is banjaxed, a new government is due to be elected, and your correspondent from Blackrock (February 3rd) is measuring prospective candidates on their ability to hang posters to an acceptable height and direction. Could I suggest it is this thought process that got us the last Government, God save us all. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – John O’Brien (February 2nd) asks “all householders to put a sign on their letterbox saying ‘no election leaflets please’”. His reason being that said leaflets will “inevitably end up as rubbish”.
May I respectfully suggest that the vast majority of such items begin their lives as “rubbish”. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – With election posters springing up all over the country, I have added one of my own on my front door (beside the “No junk mail” notice), which reads “No Fianna Fáil canvassers or literature”. Whatever about the other parties, at least I won’t have to listen to their pre-programmed PR spiel. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Michael Muldoon wants the Aran islanders to be allowed vote on the same day as the rest of the country. (February 3rd). He rightly claims that this is practicable. However, it is not practical. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – The threat of a Tea-Party government in Ireland is very real. Enda Kenny, the titular head of a dithering government, supported by right-wing independents or even Fianna Fáil is a distinct possibility. Social democrats who think of voting Fine Gael and socialists who think of voting for a splintering “United Alliance” or independent lefties should think again. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – I presume part of Micheál Martin’s reform plan means outgoing Fianna Fáil ministers will not be using their State cars for electioneering purposes. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – John Sheenan (February 3rd) suggests we should plan our voting strategy taking into consideration the importance of electing “an effective opposition”. I’m not actually sure how to vote for an effective opposition, but I will certainly be doing my utmost to vote for the party that will provide effective government. To suggest that the country’s woes occurred because the “Opposition was asleep at the wheel” doesn’t say much for his belief in sovereign government. – Yours, etc,