Sir, - In view of the turmoil gripping euro-land, it's probably, ultimately, an irrelevance whether Ireland votes Yes or No on May 31st.
However, listening to Sinn Féin's arguments, that we can behave delinquently, all the while relying on the safety-nets provided by European institutions, has an eerie echo of other times, when Ireland delinquently chose to introspectively circle the wagons, knowing full-well that the Allies would rescue us, if need be.
It's an Irish version of Pascal's wager, hedging one's bets: call it Adams's wager. If one set of indulgent Allies won't rescue us, another set of "gallant allies" will.
I'm not so sure this time.
PADDY McEVOY,
Kinnegar Road,
Holywood, Co Down.
Sir, - We are being urged to vote Yes to the stability treaty so that we may be in a position to avail of further "bailout" money from Europe. If, as the treaty insists, we are to live within our means, why should we need to borrow money from anyone? Is there not a contradiction here? - Yours, etc,
KEVIN CARROLL,
Waterpark Grove,
Carrigaline, Co Cork.
Sir, - Having listened to President Hollande's speech at the press conference with Chancellor Merkel, I find it unbelievable that proponents of a Yes vote, most recently Richard Bruton and Patricia Callan of the Small Firms Association, continue to tell us that President Hollande will ratify the budgetary "treaty" as it stands today.
President Hollande announced he would "Renegotiate that which had been laid down at a moment in time in order to integrate a dimension for growth." He also said, "Everything has to be put on the table by each and every party, everything which can contribute to growth". Here, the use of eurobonds or EU structural funds was mentioned. "We will draw conclusions in terms of the necessary legal steps to be taken". (See elysee.fr)
A number of questions arise: 1. Who is putting pressure on our Government to demand of us that we ratify, forever more, a treaty which will be amended? 2. How can the talk about growth by Mr Kenny, et al, be taken seriously if they trump M Hollande's call to all parties to engage in renegotiation by having the "treaty" ratified before renegotiation has been completed? They know very well that a simple change in the legislation will allow for a postponement of the referendum. - Yours, etc,
MOIRA HEERY,
North King Street, Dublin 7.
Sir, - Given that a poorly phrased answer to a question, that was quickly retracted, clarified and apologised for, is "an outrage and an affront to democracy", may I ask Pearse Doherty what he considers a 30-year campaign of indiscriminate murder and torture to be? - Yours, etc,
PETER RICE,
Millrace, Duleek, Co Meath.
Sir, - Ireland will need a second bailout based on the current market instability and major problems with Greece, Spain and Italy. With such trends we will not be able to afford the rising long-term bond prices.
An exit from the euro by Greece is looking more likely by the hour and this will create serious fallout with Ireland in the centre of the storm. It is possible that Ireland and Portugal could also come under serious pressure also to exit the euro. With this background Ireland needs positive sentiment from Brussels and the IMF. A Yes vote will help in this regard but a No vote would be a disaster.
These are dangerous times for all, people should rise above local issues and clumsy debating and send a strong signal by voting Yes. - Yours, etc,
FM McSWEENEY,
Drograne Road,
Glengarriff, Co Cork.
Sir, - Two roads diverged in a referendum debate, and sorry Minister Bruton could not travel both. So he took the one less travelled by, but the retraction made all the difference. - Yours, etc,
BEN ENGLISH,
College Road, Co Cork.
Sir, - Thanks Richard Bruton! You've made up my mind. - Yours, etc,
DES HUGHES,
St Donagh's Crescent,
Donaghmede, Dublin 13.
Sir, - Cryptic crossword clue 1 across: The electorate soon to vote on a confusion of itty bitty laser heat. (3,9,6). - Yours, etc,
ALISON HACKETT,
Crosthwaite Park East,
Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin.