Madam, – The electorate hasn’t just spoken, it has bellowed. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – February 25th: Independents’ Day. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Much has been made by observers from abroad, during the current financial crisis, about the lack of visible anger from the public with the Government.
In other European democracies riots would break out, private and public property would be destroyed, there would be much anger and bitterness but these actions would lead to little real change.
What they failed to appreciate was the Irish people’s confidence in their democracy and Constitution. With our “quirky” PR voting system we were able to protest in a far more efficient way than through wanton destruction. On election day, we made sure that those who let us down would no longer represent us.
In politics the Irish people should continue to speak softly because unlike other countries, the people carry a very big stick. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – In light of the election result, it is surely only a matter of time before Westport gets a ring road. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – The morning after the night before we awoke to a whole new political landscape. The Fianna Fáil rock has been shattered to an extent that few foresaw.
The reaction from senior Fianna Fáil people attributed the rout to the “hard decisions” they took in recent budgets rather than to the real reasons; Fianna Fáil had led us into a crisis that was avoidable, had lined their own pockets at every turn and, as happens with those who lose the run of themselves, forgot completely that they where there to serve and not to be served.
The truth is that many in the Fianna Fáil organisation boarded a gravy train some time ago and instead of looking after the affairs of State they focused on self aggrandisement.
And it may not be over yet. In his first interview Enda Kenny told the nation that he was “going to find out what went on, who benefited, what decisions were made and the way they were made and to tell that to the Irish people”. This must not be confined to matters to do with developers and banks but must cover all aspects of the outgoing Government’s “privatisation” activity which impacted on and greatly damaged our vital services such as health care provision.
As that information is given out to a suffering public, this election will come to be seen as merely the start of a process that may very well end with Fianna Fáil becoming unelectable. Greed is never good. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – It seems likely that Fine Gael will lead the next government. Before any more talk of five-point plans and “First 100 days in office” Enda Kenny should make a televised public statement concerning the true state of the Irish economic situation.
He should have his future Minister, maybe Michael Noonan and possibly Pat Cox as adviser by his side. They need to give us a definite and final figure that is owed by our country. Every day different amounts are being quoted for our indebtedness by politicians and economists alike – anything between €65 billion and €150 billion. They need to give us the breakdown of this figure and the various interest rates applicable to it.
They should tell us how much could be restructured and how much the bondholders could be sacrificed for. They should tell us also the state of the public finances and how the tax take is to be spent in relation to all of the above. A progress report could be provided every three to six months and an account statement given in the national newspapers, in a simplified format that ordinary people could understand.
In short, we need explanation, clarity and transparency. I think the Irish people deserve no less. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – South Leitrim just got itself three Roscommon TDs. Next time, any chance we could get our electoral boundaries back? – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Official figures have shown a turnout of 70.1 per cent in Friday’s election. This figure is undoubtedly inaccurate as it takes no account of the very many citizens on the electoral rolls who find themselves abroad on election day.
Once again, no effort has been made to enfranchise those seeking work or studying abroad on polling day. Once again, politicians have shown how adroit they can be in quietly side-stepping a whole class of citizens and thus depriving us of our rightful say in the future of our own country.
Politics in Ireland has long struggled to escape from the shadow of the parish pump. Realistically, what chance is there that a new type of politician will emerge when only those living within shouting distance of the pump are accorded a say in the choice of political leaders? – Yours, etc,
Madam, – My wife, my children and I are all Irish citizens who live overseas. I think it would be absurd for us to vote in Irish elections when we do not live in Ireland, do not pay Irish income tax and do not pay Irish VAT.
Perhaps those Irish expats who expect to vote in Ireland should calculate how much tax they would be paying if resident in Ireland, and remit that amount to the Department of Finance. Only genuine residents should have a vote, and only in the constituency where they genuinely reside.
Incidentally, Robert Murphy (February 26th) is mistaken about Australian electoral law. Australians who leave the country permanently have no right to vote. Those who intend to return within six years may remain enrolled. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Article 16 of Bunreacht na hÉireanngrants Irish citizens the right to vote. Nowhere in the Constitution does it say that emigration renders you less of a citizen. Yet tens of thousands of Irish people have just been denied their fundamental right to vote because the Government failed to provide absentee ballots.
This phenomenon is not new to Ireland but it is more disconcerting now than ever. Scores of Irish have been forced to emigrate after rampant cronyism at the hands of the Government brought our country to its knees. Of course, many of those who left are recent college graduates, a demographic likely to vote, and likely to vote against Fianna Fáil. Ah-ha! No wonder we didn’t get an absentee vote. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – I write regarding Noel Whelan’s article (“Political junkies ready for the ultimate high of count weekend”, Opinion, February 26th). This is just the latest in a series of articles by commentators over the course of this election suggesting that the whole exercise is some kind of show that has been put on solely to entertainment us.
How many times do we hear them lament that the election hasn’t “taken off” or that there have been no “fireworks”? Is this all that these commentators can think of, that this is some kind of a sport in which there will be a winner and a loser, rather than the future of our country?
Maybe if these political experts started treating elections as the serious events that they are, then the political parties would have to face up to the realities of a future government rather than scoring cheap political points that fill column inches.
Maybe more “journalism” and less “showtime”? – Yours, etc,
Madam, – I hope Enda Kenny feels empowered and humbled in equal measure and that the Irish electorate never again takes for granted its democratic right. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – A baron and servant of the British crown elected to Dáil Éireann; Dev must be spinning in his grave! – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Now that the election is over, we can look forward to all the posters being taken down from the lamp posts all over the country. The posters will go, but unfortunately the cable ties will be left behind as these can’t be attributed to any party or Independent. Would it make sense to allocate a colour to each party and Independent for their cable ties so the miscreants could be identified and forced to remove them too? The Minister could allocate green to FF, blue to FG and red to Labour etc. just like the media do. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Now the election campaign has come to an end, it’s time to rid our language of kicking the can, elephants in rooms, truncated bills, windows, scoping and toxic banks. It’s time to get back to plain English. – Yours, etc,