Madam, - While I have no wish to get caught in the crossfire as Dr Martin Mansergh and Mr Tim Pat Coogan, the former long-serving editor of the Irish Press, re-fight the Civil War and debate the legacy of Eamon de Valera (not that I would have thought that was in question), perhaps you will still allow me to slip in a correction which is of some importance to the board of this company.
Mr Coogan (January 31st) snidely says: "By a curious coincidence, as word about the recent TV programme spread, for the first time since the 1970s, ordinary shareholders received out of the blue, a dividend of 15 per cent (less tax)."
The only curious thing is Mr Coogan's ignorance of the facts. The AGM of November 18th, 2002 and the AGM of September 30th 2003, both approved dividends of 25 cent per share. Also there was a buy-back of shares in 1998. The television programme had no effect, good, bad or indifferent on the board's decision to declare a dividend last year. - Yours, etc.,
VINCENT JENNINGS, Chairman, Irish Press plc, Merrion Square, Dublin 2.