TOM RYAN,
Sir, - It is not acceptable that the Special Adviser to the Taoiseach writes letters on political matters to the newspapers and that the newspapers publish them. Dr Mansergh's letter of December 24th is a case in point. The question is a serious one: How the nation relates to Europe, to America and to our possible participation in future wars.
Dr Mansergh speaks authoritatively and no doubt he has access to a lot of information and the time to analyse it. He treats as facts things that others might consider no more than likely or possible, from the limited information available to us. He may have inside information - or like us to think he has - or he may know no more than the rest of us. He may be telling us what the Taoiseach wants us to believe but he does so with no responsibility and in a way that the Taoiseach can readily deny if he so wishes.
In my view, if Dr Mansergh wishes to express views on such subjects in the newspapers he should leave out his title or job description. - Yours, etc.,
TOM RYAN,
Leoville,
Dunmore Road,
Waterford. ...