Sir, - Regardless of how one voted on the Nice Treaty, Mr O'Cuiv's personal action in the matter must be welcome to anyone concerned about current political life in this country.
By voting No and saying that he had done so, he clearly manifested independence, responsibility, courage and integrity. He also managed to do this without in any way compromising proper loyalty to his party in respect of the referendum itself, because he did not express his personal view until after the voting was over.
It surely would be greatly to the benefit of this country if our politicians generally acted in this way and it must be very reassuring to every responsible citizen to know that it actually can happen even in the Ireland of today. - Yours, etc.
G. de Courcy Wheeler, Carbury, Co Kildare.