Madam, - Now we all know the feeling of being used, of being degraded, of being paid off for a dirty little service. Ahern, Cowen, and the others who will traipse obediently to Hillsborough on our behalf are debasing the Irish peace process for the benefit of US war propaganda. They have turned Hibernia into the prostitute at the temple of Mars. - Yours, etc.,
COLM STEPHENS,
St Patrick's Terrace,
Drumcondra,
Dublin 3.
Madam, - One can only hope that the real symbolism of Hillsborough as a venue will not be lost on either George W. Bush or his host, Tony Blair. The fragile peace that exists in Northern Ireland survives only because of the painstaking work of building consensus between pro-agreement parties and the efforts of many to bring these to the point of full collaboration. The even harder work of bringing the detractors on board continues.
In the run-up to the present war in Iraq, consensus-building was disregarded by an impatient and "morally certain" US government. Tragically for the United Nations and the European Union, Mr Blair's position supported the disunifying force which resulted in these major institutions being more undermined and damaged than at any other time. If post-war Iraq is rebuilt according to the will of Washington, one can only fear the eventual outcome. The Northern Ireland situation demonstrates that consensus results from difficult and exhausting work and is not created or sustained by one view prevailing over others. However shaky the present peace may be in the North, the situation is far healthier than in the 1970s and 1980s.
It is to be hoped that Bertie Ahern will make this point clearly and forcefully at Hillsborough. If so, he might restore some of the belief we once had about our integrity as a "neutral" nation. - Yours, etc.,
COLM L. HUMPHRIES,
The Tramyard,
Inchicore,
Dublin 8.
Madam, - As an Irishman long resident in the United States, this has been an incredibly distressing period for me, as for all my American friends. The Bush régime, right from the day of its non-election, has been a nightmare.
That this crass lover of war, of capital punishment and of the wealthy should find any welcome on Irish soil and have the arrogance and stupidity to presume to address the question of peace there is appalling.
I hope and pray that the Irish will not fail the peace-loving people of the world (including the US), as our lily-livered Taoiseach has failed us, and that Bush will be made to see and hear what right-thinking Irish people feel about his wretched policies. I remember with what pleasure I and many American friends joined the protests in Dublin when Ronald Reagan came to our shores.
No harsher condemnation can be made of Bush than that he has made Mr Reagan look not so bad (even intellectually) after all. - Yours, etc.,
DÁITHÍ SPROULE,
Easthampton,
Massachusetts,
USA.
Madam, - In view of the revulsion expressed by the people of Ireland at the brutal and illegal war being waged against Iraq by the US and British governments, we call on the Taoiseach to make a clear public statement in opposition to the war during the visit by George Bush and Tony Blair.
We object to the peace process being used as a public relations event for this war, and call upon elected representatives from all parts of Ireland not to meet US and British leaders during their visit to Ireland. - Yours, etc.,
JOHN GORMLEY TD,
TREVOR SARGENT TD,
CIARÁN CUFFE TD,
EAMON RYAN TD,
PAUL GOGARTY TD,
DAN BOYLE TD,
PATRICIA MCKENNA MEP,
JOE HIGGINS TD,
TONY GREGORY TD,
FINIAN McGRATH TD;
IVANA BACIK,
AILBHE SMYTH,
WERRC, Irish Anti-War
Movement;
MARY VAN LIESHOUT,
American Citizens
Against the War;
MICK O'REILLY,
ATGWU;
DENNIS KEANE,
President, CPSU;
MARY ENWRIGHT,
President, Dublin Council
of Trade Unions,
Dublin 2.
Madam, - I believe that this week's visit by President George W. Bush will provide a significant opportunity for a lasting peace on our island.
The US has had a significant contribution to the peace process in Ireland. Continued US administration support, through the International Fund for Ireland (IFI), for economic development in Northern Ireland is a significant factor in both job creation and in support for business.
The IFI has, by its funding support from the United States, the EU and other donor countries, created more than 37,000 jobs, helped over 4,000 business projects including over 120 strategic foreign business alliances. It has also allowed more than 10,000 young people from all sections of the community to receive training, look to their futures and improve their employment prospects.
More important, though, is the opportunity to secure a just and lasting peace in our country - peace which can flourish in a successful economic environment. I am from Derry, my constituency covers almost the entire Border region and I am only too well aware of how the absence of peace effects the entire community.
Our politicians have the opportunity to highlight to the world that lasting peace can be achieved. I believe that politicians of all persuasions now have an opportunity and a duty to families, to our young people and to the community at large to go that extra step and secure a lasting peace and reconciliation.
The opportunity for all political representatives to join the policing boards before the next assembly elections should not be missed . It is also critical to accomplish the final "acts of completion" which will clearly demonstrate and highlight to the world that it is possible to make the leap from violence to the democratic process. - Yours, etc.,
DANA ROSEMARY
SCALLON, MEP,
Eglinton Street,
Galway.
Madam, - It is deplorable that the instigators of an illegal attack on Iraq are now presenting it as peace-making by linking it with the Northern Ireland peace process. Mr Ahern should stay at home. - Yours, etc.,
MYLES McSWINEY,
Cricklewood Park,
Belfast 9.