Sir, - The existence of a parliamentary Opposition is what distinguishes democracy from all other systems of government. Yet the present Government and not a few commentators routinely challenge the right and duty of the Opposition to criticise or put an alternative point of view.
To take four examples from January 9th. In a feature on problems in the prisons, Valerie Bresnihan, a member of the Labour Party, claims no party has earned the right to make these incredible moral judgements on the state of the prisons, when Fianna Fail was in power for so long. Even though the present Government cancelled or deferred most of our prison building plans in 1995? The Minister for Health accuses the Opposition spokesperson of petty politicking on the BUPA issue. The Minister for Education Niamh Breachnach describes reasoned Fianna Fail criticism of her Education Bill as "small minded and begrudgery". Your editorial states that "politicising the issues in relation to criticism of the Government's handling of the BSE crisis is not likely to serve any useful purpose". What all these comments have in common is an attempt to deter the Opposition and particularly Fianna Fail from doing our job, indeed challenging our right to open our mouths.
Political debate is the lifeblood of democracy. I hardly think a newspaper in particular would really want even a politically correct dictatorship. It is high time the Government, certain editorialists and some others who comment on public affairs stopped trying to stifle and inhibit democratic debate, in a protective attempt to shelter this Government from exposure of its poor performance in so many areas. It is Fianna Fail's job in Opposition to point out where the Government have fallen down and could do better, and to put forward constructive alternatives, and people expect that of us. No one is going to stop us, nor should they even be trying to do so. - Yours, etc.,
Chairman of the Fianna Fail
Parliamentary Party,
Dail Eireann,
Dublin 2.