Sir, - There seems to be a sense of irritation and impatience on the part of the Government with the entire referendum process. The Referendum Commission, in its brochure, wonders aloud if one of the referendums is even necessary. "This thing has been signed already, just tick the box and get on with it," seems to be the message.
Before we scurry off to do the bidding of all concerned, we should give pause for thought about what we might be about to do.
In relation to the International Criminal Court in particular, we are alone in Europe to have the right to be consulted on this matter. Worldwide, I suspect we are only one of a handful.
We owe this enormous privilege to the vision and foresight of those who are now being described as the madmen and madwomen of 1916, to de Valera, and to one Raymond Crotty. Many of these heroic people paid a high price for putting us in such a fortunate position. Once we have said "yes" to the trading off of what is left of our Constitution, we are not likely to be asked very much in the future by the masters of Europe for our opinions.
The decisions that lie ahead must be regarded as a duty to be carried out with care, not as a chore to be got out of the way. - Yours, etc.,
Donal O'Driscoll, Dargle Road, Blackrock, Co Dublin.