Sir, - On Wednesday, October 27th, Patrick Smyth reported in The Irish Times that the Irish Government was about to incorporate the European Convention on Human Rights into Irish law. This was a welcome decision. Ireland is the only EU state not to have incorporated the convention into its domestic law already. Moreover, the Irish Government suggested at the Belfast Agreement that it would do so, and promised to strengthen human rights in Ireland.
On November 1st, however, Denis Coghlan reported that as a result of pressure from "conservative Catholic groups", the Government may change its mind and back down on its previous decision.
In succumbing to pressure of this kind without democratic debate, the Government condones bullying by specialist interest groups. It also leaves itself open to the charge of being sectarian. - Yours, etc., Lia Mills, Eilis Ni Dhuibhne,
Seafield, Shankill, Co. Dublin.