Senator shouldn’t be vilified over Béal na mBláth

IN response to Denis Moloney’s letter (August 16) I, as a member of Fine Gael, was also disappointed to read Senator Liam Twomey’s point of view with regard to Finance Minister Brian Lenihan addressing the annual Michael Collins commemoration at Béal na mBláth.

However, I respect the senator’s right to express his point of view and I don’t think he should be vilified for it. As Mr Moloney points out, Fine Gael was established long after Collins was assassinated but continued with a pro-treaty policy as a stepping stone towards a united Ireland — a position that was held not only by the Big Fella, but also by such distinguished politicians as Arthur Griffith, Kevin O’Higgins and William T Cosgrave, our first Taoiseach. This is perhaps why the organisers of the Collins commemoration associate the event with Fine Gael in the same way that the Wolfe Tone commemoration is associated with Fianna Fáil.

As for the very substantive issues that affect modern Ireland, which Mr Moloney points to in his letter, it is important to remember that this country was in a much better situation in 1997 than it is now. Our founding fathers must be deeply saddened by the lack of leadership and direction shown our Government over the past 10 years.