Madam, - Mary Lou McDonald MEP (May 4th) complains of a lack of transparency and accountability in the European Convention when the draft European Constitution was being drawn up. Can she offer any example of a national constitution being written in a more open fashion?
When the US constitution was being drawn up at a congress in Philadelphia, the voices of immigrants, blacks, women, young people and disabled people were not heard. Rather, the constitution was drawn up by white men of property. And were such groups offered an opportunity to give their opinions on the make-up of Bunreacht na hÉireann? Equally, in 1958 General de Gaulle did not open the debate to the French population when drafting the constitution of the Fifth Republic.
The EU, which is often unfairly criticised for being closed and secretive, demonstrated in the European Convention that it sought and took account of the views of as many diverse and interested groups as possible when preparing a draft constitution. If only Sinn Féin could be as open and accountable in terms of its relationship with the IRA, which has such important implications for all the citizens on this island. - Yours, etc.,
RAYMOND O'ROURKE, Cuala Road, Bray, Co Wicklow.