Sir, - John Bruton is respected as a man of integrity and ability both within and outside the Fine Gael party, as are Jim Mitchell and Michael Noonan. The misfortunes of Fine Gael are not the fault of its leader. I believe that the public is finally realising that it's not a good thing that the two biggest political parties in this state are both conservative, centre-right, Christian Democratic parties. One of them has to go.
People are now voting on issues and on political ideologies instead of on Civil War allegiances. People who want to create a more equal society will vote for Labour. People who want to tackle our growing environmental and waste-management issues will vote for the Greens. Republicans will vote for Sinn Fein. Economic and social liberals will vote for the Progressive Democrats. The rest of the population, those who are economically liberal and socially conservative are beginning to realise that Fianna Fail and Fine Gael are very similar indeed.
The decline of Fine Gael will, for the first time since the creation of the State, present the Irish people with the opportunity of electing a Taoiseach who is not a centre-right conservative. This can only be a good thing for the country. I predict and hope that changing the leadership of this party will do nothing to halt the party's decline. I look forward to seeing a Fine Gael-Labour coalition government with a Labour Taoiseach. Behind all the posturing and spin, this is a matter of great substance. - Yours, etc.,
G. Allen, Eagle Valley, Wilton, Cork.