Sir, – Diarmaid Ferriter outlines how the idea of a rotating taoiseach became established in Irish politics, being originally seen as a non-runner for Dick Spring of Labour in the 1990s, but adds that the Green proposal for Eamon Ryan to be taoiseach for one of the five years of the current government was not taken seriously (“In 1989, the idea of a rotating taoiseach was treated as a joke. We’ve come a long way”, Opinion & Analysis, December 16th).
For future coalitions and leaders of smaller parties the example of Iceland could provide a template.
Their prime minister, Katrín Jakobsdóttir, leader of the Left Green movement, is the smallest party in the governing coalition with eight seats. So now that two of Ireland’s larger parties have conceded on the taoiseach being rotated and not from the largest party, the next frontier is opening it to the leader of any party in a coalition government. – Yours, etc,
CATHAL McCANN,
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Terenure,
Dublin 6W.
