Madam, - I saw the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, on television recently, in his office in Leinster House. On the wall was a picture of that great Irish scholar and patriot - Pádraig Pearse. When Pearse died, it wasn't just for our physical freedom, it was for the whole package - our language, our beliefs and our culture.
The Irish language is a priceless inheritance, the oldest vernacular language in Europe. We have kept this language with great pride for hundreds of years, all through our turbulent history. We have rights as Irish citizens and members of the European Union to demand that our native language, our first official language, is given the same status as other languages in the EU.
I hope this will be the Taoiseach's priority during Ireland's presidency of the European Union. - Yours, etc.,
ANNA R. QUINN, Killincarrig, Greystones, Co Wicklow.