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In 1922, Ireland endorsed the Westminster system of democratic government at independence. Yet, in 2024, JA McArdle asserts “The US has woken up to the value of business leaders and maybe we should too” ( Irish Independent, Letters, November 14). It is open for any citizen of the Irish Republic to put themselves forward for election to the Dáil or county council.
Democracy has no need for self-appointed professional candidates, whereas a plutocracy does. The only way to change the policies of the political parties is to get involved in a party or cast your vote putting all political parties last, which sends a message to the leadership. Since 1922, too many Irish citizens have refused to accept the responsibility of voting for the overall good of the nation, let alone the children of the coming generations.
French writer Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr said in 1849: “Plus ca change, plus c’est la meme chose” – “the more things change, the more they stay the same”. Declan Foley, Melbourne Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael should rekindle their partnership after election Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have been in government for almost five years, and many would agree they have worked well together. I don’t think either of them ever had as good a working relationship with any other party they governed with.
Most of the recent arrangements they had with smaller parties ended in tears, with the smaller party almost being wiped out at the subsequent election. Recently we saw a public spat between Fine Gael’s Hildegarde Naughton and Fianna Fáil’s Jack Chambers, who will probably be two major players in the next government. In any coalition you are going to have spats: if Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael agreed on everything, they would be the one political party.
They are fishing in the same pool for votes and the competition has begun. I have knocked on doors on behalf of Fine Gael. People look on that party as neoliberal, with Fianna Fáil regarded as more left of centre.
There is a need for both parties to serve again in government. Thomas Garvey, Claremorris, Co Mayo Whichever party wins, their priority should be to bring down soaring rents The recent new Daft rental report delineates that market rents rose yet again in the third quarter of this year, marking the 15th consecutive quarter in which rents nationwide have increased. We are now seeing explosive rent increases in Cork, Limerick and Galway.
Political parties need to step up to the plate with a clear strategy in dealing with these out-of-control rents. I have to ask how regular working people are expected to afford these exorbitant rents? How are they to save for a deposit to buy a house? We are now seeing month-on-month, year-on-year, that rents are continuing to rise at the rate of knots for new and existing tenants and outside Rent Pressure Zones. This is all the more reason why it will be incumbent on any new government to immediately increase investment in and delivery of genuinely affordable homes to rent and buy.
John O’Brien, Clonmel, Co Tipperary If you want a government that gets things done, you will need fewer teachers Further to the ongoing topic of Michael O’Leary and the representation of teachers in the Dáil. On a trip to the USA some years ago, I had a conversation with a professor in a university, and during the conservation he said: “Those that can, do; those that can’t, teach; and those that can’t teach, lecture.” Dudley Berry, Address with editor Like namesake Kamala, Harris wants us to forget years he’s spent in power Comparisons between Simon Harris and Kamala Harris go beyond their surnames.
On the one hand, Kamala “Turn the Page” Harris was recently defeated having attempted to convince her electorate that she wasn’t in charge for the last four years and that her “day one” was due in January 2025 instead of having been in January 2021. On the other hand, Simon “New Energy” Harris is determined to distract from the eight years he has spent at the cabinet table, and the 14 years Fine Gael has stagnated in government in order to convince Irish voters that years 14 to 19 will be the years in which they finally deliver. There was a viable, proven alternative to that sort of amnesiac politics in the US.
Unfortunately for us, our opposition’s viability is far from proven. Killian Foley-Walsh, Kilkenny city We ought to set a limit on the number of educators allowed seats in the Dáil Recent comments attributed to Michael O’Leary, regarding the over-representation of teachers in the Dáil, are to be welcomed. The Dáil has historically been overburdened with teachers, many of whom occupied ministerial office that they were neither qualified for or effective in.
The outgoing Taoiseach credits two teachers (Enda Kenny and Michael Noonan) with creating the architecture for the economic recovery. For balance, he should have mentioned that his cabinet colleague Micheál Martin – a former primary school teacher – played his part in cabinet in the ruin of the public finances. Maybe it’s time to consider quota limits on the number of teachers that can enter the Dáil.
John Coughlan, Macroom, Co Cork Parties should not be so eager to splash the cash after our Apple windfall We have the Apple €13bn, so most parties are attempting to use it to buy their way into government. Something for everyone in the audience. One party will spend €10bn on housing, while another will spend €10bn on transport.
It all feels somewhat depressing. Damien Carroll, Dublin Appointment letter gave eye-opening insight into long waits facing patients About two weeks ago, a friend made an application, via his doctor, to attend an ophthalmologist as an outpatient, on the public system in a hospital. He showed me the letter he has received, in fairness within two weeks, from the hospital.
His appointment date is May 7, 2025. A case there of “see you later, much later”? Tom Gilsenan, Dublin 9.
