Madam, - I know I am not the only one to detect, in recent broadcast interviews with the Minister for Education, Noel Dempsey, a begrudging if not contemptuous tone in his voice when he has used the words "rights", "Constitution" and, in particular, "lawyers".
It has been a theme of his to complain about people becoming "legalistic" in exercising their constitutional rights to protect their good names from unfair attack.
How deeply ironic it was, therefore, to hear Mr Dempsey begin an interview on Morning Ireland by declaring an intention to obtain a transcript of what the previous interviewee had said, clearly hinting that he might sue for damage to his own good name.
And if he had been defamed - which I am certain he was not - to whom would he (legalistically) turn for protection? To none other than the lawyers he seems to despise.
But in doing this the Minister has inadvertently made an important point. No one's good name should be taken away unfairly and unjustifiably. Mr Dempsey is entitled to this fundamental protection every bit as much as any other citizen.
That is why we have a Constitution to which the Government, like everyone else, is subject. The possession of constitutional rights is a badge of freedom of all citizens in our democracy.
And yes, these essential constitutional rights cannot be protected, whether the Minister likes this fact or not, without lawyers. - Yours, etc.,
KEN MURPHY,
Director General,
Law Society of Ireland,
Blackhall Place,
Dublin 7.