Madam, - The appalling vandalism implicit in moving Seanad Éireann, even temporarily, to the Natural History Museum is such that all the political parties and the civil servants who have failed to defend a great institution and a great building should be deeply ashamed of themselves.
Before they have to hang their heads in collective shame, there is a solution: move the Seanad to the old House of Lords on College Green. That great chamber, now used as a dining and function room by the Bank of Ireland, could perfectly well be adapted for the Seanad's use, restoring at least some semblance of Grattan's Parliament and averting an act of outlandish vandalism by the State, whose duty it is to protect a valuable building such as the Natural History Museum, not to mention its contents.
At worst, the Government could do the obvious and rent Buswells Hotel for the duration; but, crucially, they must keep their paws off the Natural History Museum. For who knows what will be next - the National Library for the canteen, perhaps?
A little leadership with some sense of vision wouldn't go amiss on this potentially disastrous proposal. - Yours, etc,
CIARÁN MacGONIGAL, Ballymahon, Co Meath.