Dear Editor,
In his recent op-ed, Pat Leahy suggests that the Irish left has been unable to secure a governmental position primarily due to its reluctance to embrace the level of responsibility that parties such as Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are eager to accept (“Progressive Government Dream Fading, despite Not Solely Due to Sinn Féin’s Dip,” Opinion and Analysis, April 27). This argument compels me to question: what responsibility exactly?
When one takes responsibility, it implies answering for the consequences of one’s decisions and actions. Today, Ireland witnesses over 4,000 children living without homes, a healthcare system that is letting down the weakest amongst us, and a steadily increasing far-right influence as a result of societal degeneration. These unfortunate realities have been brought about by policies implemented by sequential Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil administrations.
Critics pointing out the government’s liability for these matters are widely rooted in the Dáil’s left-wing; however, Pat Leahy flippantly refers to their valid complaints as mere sideline grumbling. Consequently, both Spider-Man’s famous mantra and Pat Leahy’s analysis seem to err: evidently significant power does not always entail significant responsibility.
Yours sincerely,
JOE JOYCE, Roscam,
Galway.