Sir, - Mr Trimble is partly right. The recent sectarian proposal to change the Constitution and the deal concerning compensation for abuse in religious-run institutions have already been mentioned. I would like to add two other items, one fairly major and one fairly minor.
Primary education is dominated by denominational schools. While there is freedom to set up multi-denominational alternatives, this is in practice so difficult that for most parents there is de facto no freedom of choice in respect of their children.
Secondly, in one of the centres of public life, Dublin Castle, the Commissioners of Public Works, seemingly without embarrassment, ring out the Angelus twice a day from a State-owned church, the Chapel Royal. This in a place where many civic events and forums take place including those with a significant North-South dimension. Symbols are important, be they flags, police cap badges or bells. - Yours, etc.,
B. Hove, Killiney, Co Dublin.