Why give minor party such a major role?

TEN years ago, if people were polled and asked ‘which group of extremists are unrepresentative of the will of the majority of people, yet remain as a dominant force in shaping political policies’, it’s likely most would have replied: ‘The Provisional IRA?’

If the same question was asked today, many might answer: ‘The PDs’.

One poll published last month showed support for the PDs as low as 1%. In spite of this, the party’s elected few continue to hold some of the highest positions in government.

Over the past 10 years, the PDs have been forcing their right-wing, neo-liberal agenda on an unsupportive public. I cannot recall their support in the polls ever reaching even 10%.

We need to take a serious look at the way power is divided in government. Surely a party that holds only eight of the 166 seats in the Dáil should not have a dominant role in shaping policies in the most important departments of government — Justice and Health.

Back in 2000, people scoffed at the US electoral system that allowed a presidential candidate to win the election with a minority of the popular vote.

Our system of coalitions and voting pacts has yielded a far more disproportionate delegation of power. If it is the will of the people that Fianna Fáil be the dominant party, then the Taoiseach’s Thatcherite cronies should not be invited along for the ride. We should get the government we vote for.

Johnny Finn

Clonmore Grove

Tralee

Co Kerry