Madam, - I welcome the Progressive Democrats' choice of leader and look forward as a neutral observer to his time at the helm.
I would like to make one request of the new Tánaiste and hope that in the light of all the recent erudite political analysis it will not seem unduly trivial. Would he please let us know exactly how he would like his surname to be pronounced? The "McDoo-ell" versus "McDow-ell" dilemma is unsettling me!
I realise that either may be acceptable but surely a man of such decisiveness and logical thought must know what he would prefer. Let him tell us; and let the Progressive Democrats standardise the pronunciation; and we'll all be happier that this dithering is not a symptom of vague and woolly thinking. - Yours, etc,
MARIANNE HOGAN, Pacelli Road, Naas, Co Kildare.