Sir, - The post-referendum musical chairs being played by an ever-increasing number of Fianna Fail deputies anxious to display empathy with the electorate reminds me of an article published in The Irish Times during the late 1970s. In this column, the guest writer lamented the lack of leadership and vision within the Fianna Fail Party, claiming that these values had been ditched in favour of populism and clientelism. "The Fianna Fail party", your correspondent sadly informed us, "is without vision or principles. Instead, it says to the Irish people, I am your leader. Tell me where it is you want to go, and I will follow you there."
This concise summary has stayed in my mind all these years. La plus ca change . . . and all that. And your invited columnist from all those years ago - who could it have been? Why, stand up Charlie McCreevy and take a bow for prescience away beyond the call of convenience. - Yours, etc.,
Liam Stenson, Salthill, Galway.