Sir, - The All-Party Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution recommends that, in a reformed Seanad, the Taoiseach should nominate four members form Northern Ireland (The Irish Times, March 22nd).
This is an erratic proposal which should be quickly quashed. No doubt the committee wishes to recognise the special relationship between the Republic and Northern Ireland but, in a wayward bout of enthusiasm (and influenced perhaps by an existing anomaly) its members forget that the Seanad is a legislative assembly, not a consultative one.
Decisions of the Seanad on public policy and legislation must be made by a membership which is legitimate and accountable. On that principle persons from another jurisdiction must be excluded. - Yours, etc.,
T. O'CONNOR,
Churchtown,
Dublin 14.