Sir, - On behalf of the members of this Society, I wish to protest most vehemently at the continuing refusal of our Government to participate in Expo '98, which is due to open on May 22nd next in Lisbon.
We will be the only member state of the European Union - and one of the very few nations in the world - not to be represented. The organisers have adopted "the oceans" as their theme, and the presentation and layout of the Exposition follows this theme very closely. The United Nations also has designated 1998 as the "Year of the Oceans", yet another reason why Ireland should be involved.
It is a shameful attitude, especially in a time of booming affluence. We need some European-minded politicians to reverse this decision and to support our friends within the European Union with whom we have so much in common. - Yours, etc., Michael Moriarty, President,
The Ireland Portugal Society,
Upper Kilmacud Road,
Blackrock,
Co Dublin.