Bertie should be careful what he wishes for regarding election
■ Bertie Ahern’s views (‘Varadkar has it easy with FF backing him, says Bertie’, Irish Independent, April 6) are rather unique for an ex-Taoiseach.
Mr Ahern is incorrect in stating that the present Taoiseach can do anything he wants. Mr Varadkar doesn’t have the loot to distribute that Mr Ahern had at his disposal during his tenure at Merrion Square. It could be Mr Ahern has conveniently forgotten all of this, but he can still recall his dealings with the late Jackie Healy-Rae, and Mildred Fox, whom he freely negotiated with and duly benefited from the process.
I am sure someone of Mr Ahern’s considerable experience would agree there is only one poll that counts. However, I think his complacency about his old political party regaining the trust of the people is slightly arrogant.
I would like to caution him about taking people for granted.
He is also slightly irresponsible about wishing for a general election. He might recall how one of his predecessors, now deceased, dissolved Dáil Éireann to seek an overall majority but returned with fewer seats.
Mr Ahern is correct in stating voters don’t like winter elections, but he might also consider voters are far less amenable to unnecessary elections if they believe the country is being governed effectively.
Tom Garvey Claremorris, Co Mayo