Sir, - Mr Peter Mandelson has distorted my views on the implementation of the Patten Commission recommendations for police reform in Northern Ireland. Mr Mandelson said (The Irish Times, October 6th) that I accepted the fact that nationalists got "95 per cent of what they want in Patten." What I actually said is the following: "The assertion has been made that in the current legislation, the British government will implement 95 per cent of Patten's recommendations. But quantity does not measure quality. The most significant reforms recommended by the commission are not adequately implemented in the legislation."
Notwithstanding Mr Mandelson's remarks, I continue to urge the House of Lords to recognise the serious problems in the House of Commons version of the Patten legislation, and act in good faith to deal with these problems. - Yours, etc.,
Edward M. Kennedy, United States Senate, Washington, DC, USA.