STEPHEN J. COSTELLO,
Sir, - In the wake of the general election - and particularly the devastating blow dealt to Fine Gael by a discerning electorate - may I be permitted, as a philosopher, to proffer some suggestions?
A number of political commentators have already alluded to the ideological bankruptcy at the heart of our political parties. They are right. There has been no clear articulation of any cogent political philosophy. Here are some brief, non-party political points and possible remedies that I believe are worth pondering:
1. The liberals in Fine Gael could choose to leave and join the Labour Party if Ruairi Quinn consolidated it as a social democratic, left-of-centre party and changed its name. Labour is no longer socialist, thankfully, and it should not sit with the Socialists in Europe.
2. The conservatives in Fine Gael could stay and become right-of-centre Christian Democrats, in line with the group with which they sit in Europe. They too could profit from a name change. Civil War politics have ceased to matter in the new century.
3. The Progressive Democrats probably don't need to change their name, so long as they evolve into a truly liberal democratic party, located on the radical rather than reactionary right.
4. That leaves Fianna Fáil, which fared brilliantly. But Sinn Féin could pose a serious future threat for the party and even I believe it would behove Fianna Fáil to actually become a real republican party rather than merely paying lip service to that particular ideal. In that way, it could reclaim the republican tag - but republicanism understood in the European sense - and take it away from Sinn Féin.
In short, what all the political parties need to do is to rethink, reinterpret and revamp themselves, much like the religious orders were obliged to do, and offer a clearly articulated political philosophy - because ideas, not just policy, matter. - Yours, etc., STEPHEN J. COSTELLO, Dartmouth Road,
Dublin 6.
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Sir, - Several days after the election, some commentators still profess bemusement at Fine Gael's decline, especially in Dublin. Are so enmeshed in a culture of sleaze that these experts cannot see the what should be obvious?
People have been asking "What is Fine Gael for?" since as far back as the 1940s. There is nothing new there. But Fine Gael voters always thought the party at least provided a contrast to Fianna Fail's culture of the "cute hoor".
They were shocked when it emerged that Frank Dunlop had been equally generous to FF and FG councillors in Dublin. They were especially shocked that a Cosgrave could appear to see no reason why the party should even investigate Dunlop's claims. Is it any wonder that Fine Gael suffered most in Dublin, especially Dun Laoghaire?
Whatever rubbish was coming back from the Opposition's focus groups, I think the pattern of Fine Gael's decline proves that the issue was sleaze, stupid.
It was for Labour to make sleaze the issue and they failed. They let down not just their own members, but the whole Irish people. - Yours, etc.,
TIM O'HALLORAN, Ferndale Road, Dublin 11.
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Sir, - In the overcrowded centre ground of consensus Irish politics it is difficult to distinguish between one bunch of grey suits looking at another bunch of grey suits across the Dáil chamber. This is Fine Gael's problem. They stand for nothing.
You couldn't slip a gold credit card between the major parties at this stage. They have bought into focus groups, and Blairite consensus/middle ground pap,and have forsaken any ideological stance. They are in thrall to spinners, programme managers and assorted public relations freaks. They look for identity in the media training schools and have lost the ability to distinguish between style and substance. - Yours, etc.,
GERRY WALKER, Tinahely, Co Wicklow.
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Sir, - Some of the key political figures of recent years lost their seats. They may cite constituency rezoning, or even the rising popularity of Sinn Féin following the peace process. However, people speak with their pockets.
Our former Minister for Public Enterprise, who was responsible for the Eircom Shares fiasco, has lost her seat - as has a former leader of the Labour Party, who, although a member of the Eircom board, never bought a single share. I couldn't have voted for either of them, but I am proud of my fellow Irish citizens, who having lost hundreds or thousands, or having borrowed money, or even invested money on behalf of their children on that white elephant, have said "No" in the polling booths to those who pushed the shares on the gullible Irish.
It was my first and last dabble in the stock market. Mary, you can now spend the whole day in the bath listening to the news. And Dick, you are now free to dabble in stocks and shares from morning to night. But while you are enjoying your new-found freedom, I hope both of you will feel pangs of guilt collecting your ministerial pensions, at the expense of the taxpayer. - Yours, etc.,
THERESA O'FARRELL, Royal Oak, Santry, Dublin 9.
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Sir, - The electoral defeat of Fine Gael raises serious concerns for the long-term viability of this party as an effective electoral force and the cause of liberal democracy in Ireland.
Dominated by a largely rural membership, and a hierarchy preoccupied by personality rather than policies, the party failed to capitalise on the real disaffection among urban voters, which translated into gains for the Progressive Democrats and the Greens.
As a former member, I believe that Fine Gael must now radicalise or face a slow, lingering political death. The party must jettison its conservative core values, which are well represented by an increasingly Christian democratic style Fianna Fáil party, and realign itself as a true liberal party with a radical agenda and a sharp urban focus.
Such realignment will require bold leadership and a 10-year vision. With the defeat of the excellent Brian Hayes in Dublin South West, the only TD capable of managing this transition successfully is Mr Richard Bruton. - Yours, etc.,
LAURENCE S. DOWLING, Ridgewood, New Jersey, USA.
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Sir, - Old election posters should either be reused or recycled. The ubiquitous plastic posters and cable ties can all be turned into raw material for making various products such as garden furniture and manhole covers. Arrangements can be made to recycle all cable ties and any unwanted posters by contacting Mr Mark Dunne at Fingal Recycling, Stephenstown, Balbriggan, Co Dublin (01-8415700) or Ms Fiona Farrell at Sita Recycling, Unit 6, Ballyogan Business Park, Sandyford, Dublin 18 (01-2947971).
If postering is to be permitted, candidates should be issued with a set number of coded cable ties which could be traced back to an individual candidate or party to ensure prosecution for littering if ties were not removed with posters after polling. - Is mise,
TREVOR SARGENT TD, Leader, Green Party, Dublin 2.
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Sir, - In the exuberance over the Fianna Fáil and Progressive Democrat election performances, and with the spectacular demise of Fine Gael, one simple fact has been overlooked by most political commentators.
The majority of voters voted against Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats. Only in Ireland could this be seen as a vote for the Government.
Perhaps we do need to spend more on education. - Yours, etc.,
JOHN LACKEN, Drumkeeran, Co Leitrim.
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Sir, - It is important the victors draw the correct conclusions from Friday's events, namely that one in four of the eligible electorate voted for Fianna Fail, two in four voted for others, and one in four didn't vote.
Hardly a ringing endorsement. - Yours, etc.,
DONAL J. LEAHY, Fort Faulkner, Aughrim, Co Wicklow.
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A chara, - It is good news that the people of Dublin South Central gave a clear verdict on the anti-immigration and racist policies of Áine Ní Chonaill by rejecting the Immigration Control Platform: 926 votes isn't too impressive. Many Irish people, when they look around them, are comfortable with the cultural and ethnic diversity they see. They also honour their country's Christian heritage by welcoming the refugee and the asylum-seeker. - Is mise,
SEAN FLEMING, Finaghy, Belfast.