Sir, - There seem to be conflicting views on whether or not the European Parliament has any real powers.
Bertie Ahern recently extolled its importance, while Mr Jim O'Brien of the Dublin European Parliament Office said the parliament had more powers than many national parliaments.
Yet, in explaining their having voted in favour of the "call" for abortion to be legalised in Ireland, Niall Andrews, Mary Banotti, Patricia McKenna and Bernie Malone said, in one way or another, that the vote was of no effect. It was "just a general statement".
So, which is it: Does the European Parliament have more powers than "many national parliaments", or is it just a talking shop?
No doubt, it can all be explained. - Yours, etc.,
Donal O'Driscoll, Dargle Road, Blackrock, Co Dublin.