Madam, - The resignation of Bertie Ahern cannot be seen as anything other than a good thing for Ireland. There is no doubt that as Taoiseach he played an intrinsically important part in the Good Friday Agreement and a period of extended economic growth. Additionally, he has spent over 10 years in office as Taoiseach and 31 years as a TD; thus obviously he has garnered a huge degree of popular and political support.
It is this degree of popularity that points to the heart of this matter. The fact that a political leader who has faced serious and repeated allegations of corruption can remain in office for such a length of time is an astounding indication of the extraordinary extent to which the culture of backhanders, brown envelopes and cute hoorism prevails within Irish political life. This idiosyncratic phenomenon provokes a degree of disbelief in those who view Irish politics from the outside; indeed, objectively speaking, the most interesting question to be asked at this point is why Mr Ahern and the cultural baggage he comes with has been tolerated for so long.
In this respect, Mr Ahern's resignation ought to be viewed as a hugely important historical moment, and hopefully a contribution to a shift in the parameters of tolerance within Irish political life. Beyond the intricate details of alleged corrupt payments, and discussion of Ahern's personal way of dealing with the matter, what must be recognised is political and cultural symbolism of this move.
Ireland has changed beyond all recognition in the past 20 years. It is to be lamented that Irish political culture has not kept up with the pace of economic development, and has remained stuck in a quagmire of parochialism and clientelism. This culture has no place in a purportedly modern democracy.
The extent to which his resignation changes this culture significantly is dependent on the degree of self-reflexivity the Irish electorate is now willing to engage in. Only honest soul-searching among those who have elected and re-elected Ahern and his like will prompt a maturation of Irish political life, something that is long overdue. - Yours, etc,
ELIZA GAFFNEY Politics and International Studies, University of Warwick, Coventry.
Madam, - While I'm delighted that Mr Ahern has decided to fall on his sword, it would have been too much to ask of him to acknowledge any wrong he has done. He will no doubt go to his grave feeling he has been sorely wronged, citing you and The Irish Timesin particular for denying the country a few more years of his great leadership. His fellow-travellers will now line up to bemoan the fact that a good man has been hounded from office - as indeed Mr Ahern said of his North Dublin Fianna Fáil colleague, Ray Burke.
Fianna Fáil will not learn from this whole sorry saga.
It will go on as before putting the party above all else. What depresses me is that I don't think the people of Ireland will learn either.
They will continue to vote for such a party in the mistaken belief that its casual corruption will somehow benefit them, and them only. - Yours, etc,
GODFREY SHAW, Blackhorse Avenue, Dublin 7.
Madam, - As a Northern nationalist, I am saddened at the untimely departure of the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern.
I have a memory of him leaving his mother's graveside to return to the Belfast Agreement negotiations still wearing his mourning clothes.
He worked tirelessly to secure peace in Northern Ireland and as a result, he was respected by all sides of the political divide.
I wonder if the same can be said for those who yelped so loudly for his blood and now rush to damn him with faint praise. - Yours, etc,
EUGENE McELDOWNEY, Howth, Co Dublin.
Madam, - On doing today's Simplex crossword whilst listening to various newsflashes I see in Clue 27 (Give up a position, 6 words), that you had advance warning of the announcement of the Taoiseach's imminent departure. - Yours, etc
PATRICK QUINLIVAN, Páirc De Valera, Thomondgate, Limerick.
Madam, - I really hope that you and Miriam Lord are happy with the outcome you have obviously been hoping for: the resignation of Bertie. No doubt you will be opening the bottles of champagne tonight but there is really nothing to celebrate.
You ought to be ashamed of yourselves.
I have been reading The Irish Timessince I could read, which is going on for about 50 years.
That paper has gone way way down in my estimation. I will not be buying it in future. - Yours, etc,
CAROL O'DRISCOLL, Swords, Co Dublin.
Madam, - Now that Bertie has resigned and the media have got what they wanted by hounding him out of office, I hope they are happy. - Yours, etc,
ROSALINE OLDREY, Gorey, Co Wexford.
Madam, - So Bertie finally got the message and has resigned. This can only be for the good of Irish politics.
I hope that we will not now have to put up with reams of valedictory cant, in which we Irish are prone to indulge when a political leader is rightly forced from power.
He really had no other option, as anybody who followed the evidence of the Mahon tribunal with any degree of objectivity must acknowledge.
It is clear that he sowed the seeds of his own misfortune during his time as minister for finance.
We can only hope that all our politicians get the salutary message, that one cannot fool all of the people all of the time. - Yours, etc,
LG KILGALLEN, Crosthwaite Park South, Dún Laoghaire.
Madam, - I noted that Bertie Ahern in his gushing thanks some how managed to overlook to thank the late Charles Haughey.
This lack of gratitude appears to me to speak volumes! - Yours, etc,
JOHNNIE McCOY, Law Library, Four Courts, Dublin 7.
Madam, - Supporters of Bertie Ahern who feel the Taoiseach has been poorly treated should organise a decent whiparound. - Yours, etc,
MICHAEL CULLEN, Albert Park, Sandycove, Co Dublin.