Sir, – Joe Harrison argues that "the people's message" is that Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil should form a coalition, on the grounds that those two parties "have the numbers" to do so (April 7th).
Several other combinations of parties also “have the numbers”, so how does Mr Harrison know that the people want a Fine Gael/Fianna Fáil coalition in particular?
Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil had the numbers to form a coalition after every general election since Fine Gael was founded. With only one exception (2011), a Fine Gael/Fianna Fáil coalition would have had far greater numbers than the government that was actually formed. As such, why should we believe that “the people’s message” this time is different to that on all of those previous occasions?
The fact is that the Irish electoral system does not allow voters to express a preference for any coalition. Furthermore, prior to the election, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil ruled out entering a coalition with each other, so there is no evidence that anyone voted for such an outcome. – Yours, etc,
PAT DIGNAM,
Queensland,
Australia.
Sir, – Brian Daly's suggestion (April 7th) that the Dáil should follow some illusory global trend in favour of "governing by consensus" is a ludicrous solution to our present political uncertainty that fails to understand the realities of governance.
Any attempt to reconcile conflicting solutions to society’s problems proposed by the different parties merely by acting based on unanimous agreement would only produce a fractious quasi-administration. A “lowest-common denominator” approach would establish a government paralysed by the minimal agreement that exists between the parties. Another alternative would be to have the Ceann Comhairle be the judge of whether or not consensus has been reached on an issue, a reform which might cast him as the de facto taoiseach, essentially recreating our current system of government under a different name.
This reality is emphasised by the overwhelming rarity government by consensus, a cursory search revealing only certain regional Canadian governments as an example.
It is also interesting that Mr Daly looks favourably on the example of the European Parliament as evidence in favour of his proposal. The European Parliament does not govern by consensus, but takes roll-call votes, where a simple or absolute majority, depending on the stage of the legislative process, is sufficient to carry a motion forward. While there appears to be a striking amount of agreement between the major parties in the European Parliament, with 87 per cent of votes being supported by at least four-fifths of MEPs, this has served to marginalise rather than include smaller parties. It seems that the three largest parties in the parliament (to which both Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil pertain, interestingly), frequently vote in unison following negotiations among themselves to shape the details of particular legislation. Smaller parties are to a large extent removed from such negotiations and policy influence, far from the ideal Mr Daly seeks to create. – Yours, etc,
CHRISTOPHER
McMAHON,
Castleknock,
Dublin 15.
Sir, – How can you have a “stable” government, when you’ve already frightened the horses? – Yours, etc,
OLIVER McGRANE,
Rathfarnham,
Dublin 16.
A chara, – I presume our two prospective taoisigh would be willing to share the taoiseach’s salary? – Is mise,
JOHN KELLY,
Bennekerry,
Co Carlow.
Sir, – I cannot but notice that we have not had a government now for over 40 days. I also cannot help but notice that the country seems to be functioning quite efficiently without one! Could we possibly have a country run by the departments without paying exorbitant salaries to our allegedly esteemed Ministers? Worth thinking about, perhaps? – Yours, etc,
CAROLE DOUGLAS,
Summerhill,
Co Meath.
Sir, – The current ludicrous state of our government reminds me of JK Galbraith’s remark that “Meetings are indispensable when you don’t actually want to do anything”. – Yours, etc,
RICHARD BARTON ,
Tinahely, Co Wicklow.
Sir, – The only difference between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil at this stage is history, and we badly need both groups working together now building team Ireland. The difficulty seems to be who will be taoiseach. Clearly the practical solution is to find an acting taoiseach from outside those parties to lead the government on a five-year agreed basis. Let’s find a statesman or stateswoman with a goal to build a successful, but ethical and inclusive society, and who promises to value that vision before ego, or power, or personal wealth, or party. – Yours, etc,
MAIREAD DEVON,
Glenageary,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – So Enda Kenny and Michaél Martin are meeting in Room 716. Are they sure it’s not Room 101? – Yours, etc,
EVE PARNELL,
Dublin 8.
Sir, – If Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil cannot be partners, perhaps they can be “friends with benefits”. – Yours, etc,
J O’ROURKE,
Bray,
Co Wicklow.
Sir, – It was said of Éamon de Valera that he was not opposed to compromise so long as it was his compromise. He would be quite pleased to see that spirit alive and well in his party. – Yours, etc,
PATRICK MURPHY,
Mullingar,
Co Westmeath.