HEINRICH HALL,
Sir, - It is certainly enlightening to read that Mr Sargent of the Green Party thinks "the EU is more about markets than people" (The Irish Times, January 22nd). I wonder if he is aware that what environmental legislation this country has mostly originates from the EU. Or does "Green" now stand for inward-looking nationalism, as it does with other parties?
He also tells us that the imminent eastward enlargement of the EU is really a form of colonisation, and that the prospective members do not really want it.
Considering the fact that the democratically elected governments of those states are very eager to join as soon as possible, it seems surprisingly undemocratic to second-guess them like that. Of course, the unpalatable reality is that his party stands for a campaign that may effectively block enlargement and curtail more democratic representation in the Council. Let the East Europeans join, says Mr Sargent, but only on the terms of the Irish Greens! Why adapt policy to reality if the reverse is so much easier? - Yours, etc.,
HEINRICH HALL,
Belgrave Square,
Rathmines,
Dublin 6.