Madam, - Despite all the spin-doctoring telling us why it was necessary for Mary Harney to make way for Michael McDowell as leader of the Progressive Democrats, I think it was a retrograde step. She is a splendid example for those of us who support the thesis that increased women's representation would improve the practice of politics.
Whether one agrees or disagrees with Ms Harney, she is a politician of intelligence, integrity and moral courage. During her political career she has used articulate, unemotional and logical criticism to confront the brazen, the arrogant and the powerful among her fellow politicians. Some of these thought they were untouchable and consequently had the great and the good in the political and media establishment bowing and kowtowing to them. She never kowtowed. If she thought something had to be said, she said it.
It is ironic, therefore, that she should be replaced by a graduate of the arrogance-will-get-you-everywhere school of politics which Mary Harney spent her political life confronting. In contrast to Ms Harney, Michael McDowell brings a surfeit of emotional bombast into political discourse. He is not above caricaturing his political opponents, or indeed political friends, by indulging in over-the-top comparisons featuring "Ceaucescu" or "Goebbels" or talking about "slump coalitions". This might be tolerated as knockabout stuff, but it borders on "big lie" propaganda and debases political debate. One could never accuse Mary Harney of doing that even in the toughest of political confrontations.
I'm sorry she has been replaced. Irish democracy is the poorer for it. - Yours, etc,
A. LEAVY,
Shielmartin Drive,
Sutton,
Dublin 13.
****
Madam, - Up to last Thursday there was a feeling of inevitability about the outcome of the next general election. Fianna Fáil was on course to lose at least 10 seats in the Dáil and the Progressive Democrats were facing a party meltdown, possibly retaining only two of their present eight seats. By default the next government was going to be a rainbow coalition led by Fine Gael, with the Labour Party and the Greens.
However, the inspired timing of Mary Harney's resignation as party leader and the smooth and swift appointment of Michael McDowell as her successor has changed the script which over the next couple of months could be completely rewritten.
The dynamic relationship between the Taoiseach and the new Tánaiste will bring new life to a Government which seemed to be floundering its' way towards electoral defeat.
Michael McDowell has excelled as Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and his leadership of the Progressive Democrats will undoubtedly reverse the party's fortunes. Instead of becoming redundant will become more radical and more successful electorally.
Mary Harney must be congratulated for pulling off a political masterstroke and completely wrong-footing her opponents in and out of government. She has proven that fortune does indeed favour the brave. - Yours, etc,
DEREK LAMBERT,
Castleknock Avenue,
Dublin 15.
****
Madam, - I was much enlightened by Tim O'Halloran's advice to the PDs on their options in choosing a new leader (September 11th).
Apparently such a party could choose a likeable fool to act as a front for its unacceptably Thatcherite policies, or a duplicitous type capable of preaching caring and compassion while practising the opposite. An intellectual leader is seen as the least suitable, since or she he would eventually expose the party's uncaring, profit-driven policies.
This all made perfect sense, until I attempted to relate it to the actual result of the leadership contest.
Mr McDowell is certainly not a likeable fool. Even his critics preface their remarks by referrring to his intelligence. Neither is he a duplicitous type. He has never had any problem with being perceived as uncaring. Witness the way he refused to be forced into knee-jerk reforms of the prison system.
So he must be an intellectual, then. It's all very confusing.
Really it only seems to work when the party is the much smaller part of a coalition government. It all makes perfect sense when the head of government can maintain a loving and caring image while giving all the dirty work to his unashamed neo-con partners.
Now who's the turkey voting for Christmas? - Yours, etc,
NOEL BUCKLEY,
Brighton Square,
Dublin 6.
****
Madam, - PDs, PDs, PDs. . . I'm P. . .D off. Please desist. - Yours, etc,
BARNEY CAVANAGH,
Greystones,
Co Wicklow.