MARY O'DOWD,
Sir, - With regard to the current debate concerning the policies and vision of the Department of Arts, Culture, the Gaeltacht and the Islands, we would like to take the opportunity to record the active encouragement and commitment which the Minister, Síle De Valera, has given to the promotion of women's history in Ireland.
Through her Department's sponsorship of the Women's History Project, the wealth and depth of documentary records relating to women's lives in Ireland have been surveyed and listed and a number of fine publications have been produced. The project has transformed the study of women's and gender history in Ireland. The Minister's vision in supporting its work has been applauded by researchers in Ireland and abroad, but has not received the public acclaim it deserves. - Yours, etc.,
MARY O'DOWD,
President, International
Federation for Research
in Women's History,
Belfast;
BERNADETTE WHELAN,
President, Women's History
Association of Ireland,
Limerick.