Madam, - Much reaction to the recent Irish Times/TNSmrbi poll has focused on the apparent recovery of FF from recent poor support levels and the apparent fall in support for Fine Gael.
Historically, however, polls have consistently underestimated FG support by about 3 per cent and done the opposite for FF. Elections of the past 20 years provide the proof.
Polls before the 2004 local and European elections indicated that FF would minimise losses with FG losing further ground. The results were quite different. FF (32 per cent) lost 80 seats, returning with 302 local government seats, while FG (28 per cent) held its won and made some gains, returning with 294 seats. Labour also performed well. FG and Labour now work together successfully to run more than 26 local authorities across the country.
It inconceivable that these parties would do less well in the next general election than they did in June 2004.
The Opposition is often accused of being fragmented and of having no policies. Both contentions are untrue. Fine Gael and Labour have produced several joint Opposition motions in the Dáil in recent years. Both parties have also published several comprehensive joint policy documents in the areas of value for money, health care, social partnership, etc, and relations between the party leaders have never been better.
An alternative government is available and the people have a right to vote on that choice without being prejudiced. Election 2007 is all to play for despite what the polls might currently predict. - Yours, etc,
MARK WAKEFIELD, Mercier Park, Turner's Cross, Cork.
Madam, - Some of the difficulty surrounding discussion of the Taoiseach's affairs in the 1990s arises from the different understandings of the word "wrong". Definitions range from "not advisable" or "unsatisfactory" to "immoral" or "wicked". In this context I would go with the first two, and most voters seem to concur - despite the efforts of media commentators to suggest corruption.
It is to be hoped that opinion polls such last week's will help to stop a growing media practice which seeks to force the resignation of people who did no "wrong" in the more serious understanding of the word. Maybe now there will be no more scalps to add to those of Albert Reynolds, Michael Noonan, former judge Hugh O'Flaherty, Bobby Molloy and Brian Kerr - all, in my view, people of integrity doing a good job but brought down by the media. - Yours, etc,
ÁILÍN DOYLE. Balkill Road, Howth, Co Dublin.
Madam, - The results of recent opinion surveys suggest that we are happy to allow our leaders to behave without self-discipline. Without such discipline, it is very hard to have principles and, in the absence of principles, there cannot be leadership. Bertie Ahern disgraced himself but, with such an unfocused Opposition, people remain content with the current Government.
The Government deserves credit for managing the economy but there is a big difference between balancing the books and providing for society. In so many areas, the Government has let the people down. However, if we are prepared to tolerate unprincipled leaders, we cannot hope that our Government will care for society. It is this carelessness that is the Government's greatest disgrace. - Yours, etc,
KEVIN AHERN, Sunday's Well, Cork.