Madam, - Minister for Justice Michael McDowell would be well advised to look again at the value of Irish as a qualification for gardaí recruited from ethnic minorities. By having Irish such applicants would furnish evidence of serious intent, would provide proof of their acquaintance with the country's cultural background and would avoid being treated as exceptions in the force from the start.
If the Minister wishes to know how such people could acquire Irish in weeks rather than years, he should contact Oideas Gael, Glencolmcille, where every year hundreds of foreign students advance their knowledge of Irish with remarkable ease. - Yours, etc.,
TONY CLAFFEY, Vicar Street, Tuam, Co Galway.