Madam, - I congratulate you on the European Diary and Editorial of November 13th, putting the case for Ireland joining the Schengen Area and bringing this important issue into the public's consciousness.
The Schengen system was first agreed in 1985 and introduced by seven countries in 1995. The announcement last week of nine new countries joining will bring its membership up to 24.
Switzerland and Cyprus are also due to join in 2008 and 2009 respectively. Is it not now time for the Government to look again at our position and ask: If it's good enough for all of them, why not us? - Yours, etc,
KEITH DUNNE, Drumcondra, Dublin 9.