Sir, - The Minister for Justice, Mrs Nora Owen, is a decent, hardworking person with a fine record of honourable public service to her credit. However, in recent months it has become clear that she is a Minister who is not in control of her brief. This has culminated in a situation, yet to be resolved, where 15 people on extremely serious charges had to be released from custody because of the seeming inefficiency of either her, or her department officials.
The consequences of their subsequent rearrest have yet to be decided, but it is clear that should any of those charged be released because of the Minister's lack of action, it will have the most serious implications for the security of our State, and by extension, its citizens.
As the primary reason for the formation of any Government is the safety and well being of the people it governs, it follows that it is the solemn duty of the Taoiseach, John Bruton, to demand the resignation of the Minister for Justice forthwith. - Yours, etc.,
Straffan,
Co Kildare.