A chara, – Pat O'Brien (Letters, December 20th) compares the policies Sinn Féin advocates in the South to what it does in the North, seemingly ignorant of the fact that the Northern Executive has no revenue raising powers of its own and is completely dependent on what money the British exchequer allows it. In other words, the Southern state has the freedom to decide to raise and spend more; the Northern statelet doesn't. Mr O'Brien can't be ignorant of this because it's what lies behind the demand that Britain should withdraw its claim to incorporate part of our country within itself. – Is mise,
EOIN Ó MURCHÚ,
Baile Átha Cliath 22.