Sir, - I read with interest the message of congratulations sent by the President of the European Commission to the Presidentelect, Mrs Mary McAleese, and the comment by the Commission spokesman that the message had been translated in French and he hoped that it would be understood.
Nothing surprises us. Indeed, I spend entire weeks translating Commission documents in which a road sweeper is referred to as a surface technician and a driver as a vehicular agent. - Yours, etc.,
Fitzwilliam Square, Dublin 2.