Sir, – I must say I bristled somewhat, as an erstwhile professor of Greek, at Justine McCarthy’s assumption that Greek scholars should not feel themselves qualified to elect members of the Senate (Opinion & Analysis, April 7th). But I concede that most of what she has to say about the composition of that institution is very sound.
However, university representation was originally devised, so far as I know, for the worthy purpose of giving some voice in government to the “Protestant minority”, which Trinity was assumed to represent (with the NUI included for “balance”). However, it can no longer be claimed that Trinity represents the “Protestant minority” (though it does still represent, I feel, a fine liberal tradition), so that the original basis for this arrangement has lost its validity. However, as a longtime supporter of such a figure as Senator David Norris, for one, I feel that Trinity representation has done its bit to brighten up that otherwise turgid institution.– Yours, etc,
JOHN DILLON,
Regius professor of Greek
(Emeritus) TCD,
Howth,
Dublin.