A chara, - I suppose if you live long enough you'll see everything, but the two recent Irish Times articles (September 6th and 11th) shamelessly boosting Foinse's bid for the weekly contract to publish an Irish language weekly newspaper must be the first time the paper has intervened during a government contract process to lend its support to one side.
Surely if The Irish Times decides to endorse the excellent Foinse in two prominent articles it could do the apparent also-rans like ourselves the courtesy of laying out our stall as well. For the record, La is proposing a 32-page weekly with four regional editions as well as a daily paper on the web at nuacht.com if it wins the Foras na Gaeilge contract. Doesn't The Irish Times feel any obligation to give both sides of the story, especially during the period of sensitive deliberations on a public contract?
I have no doubt the Foras will make its decision between our two applications on merit - may the best bid win - and will not be influenced by your crass statement that the contract must go to Foinse "if Foras na Gaeilge has any sense". - Yours, etc,
Mairtin O Muilleoir, Bainisteoir Eagarthoireachta, La, Bothar an Ghleanna, Beal Feirste.