Giving hope back into country in local elections

Colette Browne (Opinion, Dec 12) is correct.

We, the voters, must accept responsibility for the governments we elect, and the society which results.

But voters must also realise that we can break the FF/FG/Lab stranglehold over our nation, and that the opportunity to do so already exists.

In the Clare constituency alone during the last general election, 9 of 16 candidates were independents, and between them received almost 20% of first preference votes. The appetite is there.

Incumbents will not change, but a new national party is not going to spring forth out of the ground. Reform parties must first emerge at local level, with voters changing their own communities to start with.

By the 2014 local elections, if Irish people are serious about reform, there should be strong and cohesive independent party organisations in every constituency, looking to win the majority of seats from the troika parties. Then voters will be able to congratulate themselves for electing to give hope back to the country.

Niall Ryan

Ardnacrusha

Co Clare