There is only one way to form a change government
WE ARE told people voted for change. Thousands of us voted because of change.
We were not happy to see fellow Irishmen and women being evicted from their homes because of unemployment, ill-health etc. We don’t believe the old and the vulnerable should languish and die on trolleys in hospital corridors. We didn’t agree that the Irish unborn should never live to see the light of day. We wanted to feel safe in our homes and streets and we were not happy with the breakdown in law and order.
Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are the only option to form a stable government. Mary Lou McDonald can not.
I would ask them to put country first, not party. Use the intelligent, capable, people in both parties and get rid of the dead weight.
Have a rotating taoiseach. Let Micheál Martin go first and fulfil his dream. It is 100 years since the civil war. The ideology and aspirations of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are similar, so get together and form a government.
Prioritise the health situation. Slash your enormous salaries, invest in health and pay the nurses properly. Keep medical graduates in hospitals for two or three years to refund taxpayers for fees paid. Sort out the problems in housing, health and security. Forget climate change – God is in charge of that. It is your duty and privilege to be in charge, so get on with it.
CN Doran, Raheen, Co. Limerick. …
It has often been said politicians treat an electorate as idiots and in view of the reaction to the recent election, there appears to be substance in the supposition. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, who were always going to re-engage with each other as both lose political clout, suffered greatly in the public eye from a cosy confidence and supply arrangement which, apart from shared ministerial posts, was as solid a coalition government as there ever was.
What is most alarming, however, is that both parties got away with the myth that operating together was justified by Brexit, and that negotiations have been a rousing success for the politicians involved, and for the country. It appears that the ruse is working, as, possibly the most gullible media and electorate of all time, seems to swallow the blatant fabrication, hook, line and sinker.
Brexit negotiations have been an unmitigated disaster for the EU but especially for Ireland. It is now becoming apparent that little was securely agreed on the conditions for Britain’s departure, and that it may depart the EU without any agreement. This will create a situation where the Irish government, apart from losing substantial British trade, will be put under enormous pressure to install and operate a very hard border.
It will be ironic if what was touted as imperative for the two historic governing parties to bond together in the last Government, is what will destroy them both in the next; because of an abject failure to adopt an appropriate negotiating stance and achieve a satisfactory Brexit result.
Padraic Neary, Tubbercurry, Co. Sligo. …
Before the election, Micheál Martin ruled out going into government with Fine Gael.
Now it is reported that Micheál Martin had a phone conversation with Leo Varadkar with a view to forming a government with Fine Gael. This is why Fianna Fáil lost so many seats in recent elections – it fails to keep its word, has little principle and when you stand for nothing you fall for everything.
Denis Dennehy, Dublin. …
Isn’t it about time that Leo Varadkar and Micheál Martin stopped playing silly, infantile games and came to a decent agreement to form a democratic Irish Government. Both of you supposedly intelligent leaders took your eye off the ball allowing the Shinners to make significant gains. By acting like silly schoolboys you are both showing the same stupidity as before. Not only will you hand the country over to SF but you run the risk of annoying your loyal supporters. People want positive action, not dithering.
John K Kenny, Kilbarrack Road, Dublin 5. …
I find it extremely arrogant that both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are disregarding the wishes of the people by shutting out Sinn Féin. They are not in a position to criticise anyone. It would do them well to remember that a minister from each of their parties was in the pockets of a certain supermarket boss.
Brendan O’Brien, Kilmartin Gardens, Dublin 24.
Ease up on chairman
AT least one Irish Mail on Sunday reader is getting a tad tired of reading continuous critical articles about former Meath GAA county chairman Peter O’Halloran. Before stepping down from the position after being guilty of an impetuous deed, the said official did a lot of admirable work for the association and he should be appreciated for such.
All of us, being human, are prone to foolish deeds which are regretted afterwards. In the case of Mr O’Halloran, the criticism of him by some others could be compared to the kettle calling the pot black. Let those without sin...
Liz Lawless, Johnstown, Navan, Co. Meath.
Mary Lou’s word
WHEN Mary Lou McDonald says the IRA have gone away... perhaps this is what they told her.
Robert Sullivan, Bantry, Co. Cork.