Sir, - For better or worse, a notable majority of the Irish people has recently voted for either Fianna Fail or Fine Gael, and it would therefore make sense if our next president were to be someone respected by both these parties.
Bearing this in mind, serious consideration should be given to a remarkable man who was successively chosen by the leaders of both parties (Mr Haughey and Dr FitzGerald) to be an independent member of the Seanad. Both in that capacity and as a regular contributor to your correspondence columns he has added profoundly to our thinking on many of the important problems facing us today.
I refer, of course, to the surgeon John Robb, whose reputation for impartiality combined with a passionate commitment to peace cannot, I believe, be rivalled by anyone else living among us. I am not suggesting that he could equal the wonderful work of President Robinson in certain fields; but who better to further the respect and trust that is essential for the establishment of permanent peace in these islands? - Yours, etc.,
Cloneygowan,
Co Offaly.