People have had enough of talk and spin from the ruling political class

SIR,

Many of our citizens appear to have had a Eureka moment.

The political landscape has changed utterly. Post the general election we now have three big guns in Irish politics – Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Sinn Féin.

People seem to have had enough talk and spin from the ruling political class. They feel they have suffered long enough with the nation’s many problems, including unaffordable homes and lack of supply, bad health service, high insurance, costly childcare and no disposable income after struggling to pay the bills in our high cost of living country.

Add to these the lack of jobs in places like Tralee, our county town. We see shops closing regularly because we have one of the lowest per capita incomes in Ireland. We are in the bottom quarter of the national income list. There just isn’t enough money in places like Tralee. The east coast is awash with cash. Full employment doesn’t apply to Kerry. Lopsided economy is an understatement, surely ?

There was a time when Fianna Fáil always expected to get an overall majority. It was a core value not to countenance coalition. That changed in the eighties.

A new government will be formed after much negotiation, anguish and horse trading. It may take a month or two to achieve this – it’s not easy you know. Politicians want to be in power; that’s their raison d’etre as well of course also ‘wanting to serve the people’.

We have seen what past government’s didn’t achieve. Now we need to judge a newcomer to government in Sinn Féin. Actions speak louder than words, so the jury is out.

Of course they may not get that chance if the other main parties can’t get over the mental block of sitting in cabinet with people who, just like themselves, don’t have two heads, have parents, brothers, sisters, children, friends and neighbours. They are, after all, human beings.

Interesting times ahead definitely but people need hope. Some would say the recession lives on for many sections of society. The haves and the have nots would surely describe Irish society in 2020.

How did we get here and can it be reversed to form a just society ? Sincerely,

Gerry Cournane

Tralee