Sutherland Speech On Nice

Sir, - Peter Sutherland says a second rejection of the Nice Treaty by the Irish people in a referendum would be tantamount to…

Sir, - Peter Sutherland says a second rejection of the Nice Treaty by the Irish people in a referendum would be tantamount to 1 per cent of the EU population frustrating the will of the other 99 per cent. It follows from this that Mr Sutherland believes he knows how a majority of the people in each of the other 14 EU states would vote on the treaty if, like the Irish people, they were given an opportunity to do so. Such a claim would be ridiculously far-fetched. It would also be breathtakingly arrogant.

And to think of all the ridicule we heaped on poor old Dev for saying that whenever he wanted to know what the Irish people were thinking he only needed to look into his own heart. - Yours, etc.,

Padraic Sheridan, Upper Clanbrassil Street, Dublin 8.