Madam, - For a lawyer, Vincent Browne does not seem to have a clue about the constitutional cornerstone and bulwark for the cohesion of the State which the office of the presidency provides. The ranting and raving against perceived social injustice which he advocates would crumble the office in double-quick time.
His trivialisation of the "commander in chief of the armed forces" is unbelievably irresponsible, bordering on the subversive. He obviously has scant respect for the institutions of the State, for the State itself. All may be grist and compost to the jaded columnist's mill, but there's a limit. - Yours, etc.,
J.P. DUGGAN, Cedarmount Road, Mount Merrion, Co Dublin.
Madam, - In reply to Vincent Browne's repeated attack on the presidency of Mary McAleese, I should like to make the following points.
I had the pleasure of being present at the reception given by the Irish Ambassador to the Irish-Argentinian community in honour of the President's visit to Buenos Aires on March 18th this year.
The President spoke to - not down to - her audience in a sensible manner on current matters and also referred to the community's origins and status. This was done in perfect Irish, English and Spanish - and not just perfect Spanish, but Spanish containing the local variants of the language, to the complete admiration of the Argentinians and the unstinted praise and pride of the Irish.
The Irish Argentinians - a self- reliant group - who have by determination and hard work greatly improved their lot from often very disadvantaged beginnings, would not have appreciated being patronised as helpless victims by a left-wing "saviour".
The President very properly resisted the unsavoury temptation to achieve a petty political coup by using Argentina's present economic position to "have a cut" at the IMF which Browne claims "Robbo" - his little nickname, not mine - would surely have done. One really ought not try to score "Brownie" points at the expense of a victim, especially if the victim is also one's host.
Mr Browne contends that all our shortcomings in Ireland should be the main - if not the only - topics in a presidential election. The real forums for these matters are the Oireachtas (with Government and Opposition), parliamentary elections and the media.
A presidency, while not ignoring national problems, should rise above them and create an environment of unity and national self-importance. Such a presidency is that of President McAleese.
One has only to witness her efforts and indeed, those of her husband, to improve relations, in a sensitive and non-intrusive way, between the Republic and Northern Ireland and even, by demonstrating understanding and respect, to help relations between different political groups in Northern Ireland. - Yours, etc.,
PATRICK C. RYAN, Ratoath, Co Meath.