Madam, - The success of the Rev Ian Paisley's DUP in the Assembly elections puts a topical focus on the view of the Reform Movement that, unlike President McAleese, our Government has much difficulty in recognising that "there are both British and British-Irish communities on this island" (January 16th).
The problem is understandable; the concept of the One Nation (of "Protestant, Catholic and Dissenter") is implicit in the "cherishing" section of the 1916 Proclamation and the national flag is understood to symbolise the union of Orange and Green in a common nationality.
But the fact that this nationality is rejected by the Protestant unionist/loyalist people would suggest that, although the Proclamation announced its birth, the common nationality is still in its infancy and in need of nurturing and development.
That, I believe, would be best done if the Government set up a body to determine the essential meaning of the Tricolour (followed, perhaps, by a 32-county plebescite to confirm it).
If, as seems certain, the Tricolour symbolises the nationality preached by Thomas Davis, then its full development in "external independence" depends on the creation of "internal union" by bridge-builders such as President McAleese. - Yours, etc.,
JAMES McGEEVER, Kingscourt, Co Cavan.