Sir, - My congratulations to John Waters on his excellent, and timely, article (May 21st) on unionist attitudes and pluralism, and this Government's reaction to both. He certainly expressed the views of many in this country: whether of republican hue or not.
I must say I was amused and quite underwhelmed by the Taoiseach, Mr Bruton's reply (May 22nd) when he tried to put another gloss on his unfortunate words to Prince Charles - a good natured fellow who interests himself in a few social questions, since he has no real job. As for that, and his "private difficulties", these are hardly characteristics the rest of us in Ireland would admire and extol, never mind "aspire to".
I found it embarrassing, and cringe making in the extreme, when Mr Bruton told Charles last summer that he (the Prince) represented "everything we aspire to". Adultery? Divorce? The continued intransigence of his government towards the Irish question? Who's codding whom? Mr Bruton should have said "I" rather than "we". He did not speak for me. - Yours, etc.,
Cartronkeel House,
Moate,
Co Westmeath.