Paying the price if FG dominates government

WHEN the ship of state is sinking, clearly it should be “all hands to the pumps”.

Labour must, at the least, be seen to be available in the short term. However, there is a huge “variance” between Labour and Fine Gael on their understanding of the ultimate purpose of the exercise.

The earthquake flushing of Fianna Fáil out of our system has left a new political geology which is yet to settle. Completely overshadowing a limp and shell-shocked Fianna Fáil, the opposition will be dominated by a very hungry, rampant Sinn Féin and a smaller but extremely articulate self-styled “left”.

Their policies may be more appropriate to the moon than to real life terrestrial Ireland, but that will not matter in the political short term if they are able to express every scintilla of disproportionate pain to be suffered by a confused, suspicious and socially divided nation.

Is Labour to take what may well be the Gormley/Faustian “soup” and abandon the pragmatic social democratic Irish alternative?

I have massive respect for the front bench of Fine Gael, but their analysis and critique of where we are and how we got here, their overall political objectives, are simply wrong.

We will pay a terrible price if they dominate the incoming government.

Maurice O’Connell

Tralee

Co Kerry