Madam, - John Waters breaks the ranks of those unwilling to cast a critical eye on Bertie Ahern's years as Taoiseach ("Cowen era could see end of the tyranny of consensus", Opinion, May 9th).
Consensus in political leadership works at a micro-level, for certain issues; but over a long period of time it results in haphazard "progress" which lacks direction.
Northern Ireland (an immense achievement) aside, one wonders if Bertie Ahern had goals, or did he approach each issue with the "sit down and hammer out a deal" attitude?
In terms of a grand plan, consensus is doomed to failure. - Yours, etc,
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TOMMY CANAVAN, Breaffy, Castlebar, Co Mayo.