A chara, – In his report on the controversy over the deal between RTÉ and the Royal Irish Academy on the Judging Devbook, (Home News, April 17th) Paul Cullen correctly quotes me as saying that I intended "no criticism" of the book's author Diarmaid Ferriter. He also quotes me as claiming that the examination of de Valera's legacy was "partisan". As there might appear to be a contradiction there, I feel I should state my twofold reasons for use of the word "partisan", which do not refer to Diarmaid Ferriter's text.
The “Judging Dev project” had several partners. It was initiated by the Royal Irish Academy, which first got clearance from UCD Archives to use the de Valera material. Then the RIA wrote to RTÉ saying that it hoped to publish a book called Judging Dev which would examine “de Valera’s important and sometimes controversial legacy. The idea we would like to discuss with you and your colleagues is an inter-linked radio series, book, and site and blog called Judging Dev, presented by Diarmaid Ferriter that would critically assess how de Valera has been judged to date and question the many erroneous preconceptions that prevail”.
Another partner in the project was the Department of Education and Science, which, it was envisaged from an early stage, would distribute copies of the book and allied materials to all post-primary schools.
When the then minister for education, Mary Hanafin, was challenged by opposition education spokesmen that this was a partisan move, she offered to distribute a book "from the other side" if that was available. When I offered my biography of WT Cosgrave, at no cost, the offer was not accepted "due to available funding and resources". I have elaborated on this aspect of the affair in my book, The Good Samaritans – Memoir of a Biographer.