Madam, - I read with interest the reported remarks by the German ambassador, and his clarification of these in The Irish Times (Opinion & Analysis, September 18th). Most of his comments were objective, and he made some serious points about social mores, infrastructure, high-priced professional enclaves, integration, etc. It is always interesting to hear the views of an outsider, especially such a perceptive emissary. Of course, as a senior diplomat from what is arguably Europe's leading country, perhaps a little more tact was called for.
I have noticed, in discussions with my German friends and acquaintances, that they do indeed have the simplistic notion that Ireland's recent success is the fruit of subsidies from the European Community, and I think the ambassador is providing a laudable service in dispelling this notion. American investment has also played a big role, but of course Irish people are ultimately what made it all happen.
However, I also acknowledge to my German and other European friends that we Irish could not have prospered so much without the wise decision, taken by their leaders many years ago, to provide a strong, and sustained push to a small country in a remote part of Western Europe. They never imagined that such support, very necessary even though insufficient in itself, would achieve so much. The German people can always be proud of this, and we Irish should always be grateful. - Yours, etc,
ALEXANDER ANDERSON,
Mexico City.
Madam, - Germany to Ireland: Lighten up, guys! - Yours, etc,
DENIS HEALY,
Salthill,
Galway.
Madam, - I would like to declare my support for the German ambassador to Ireland. As an Irish citizen living abroad, I have seen at first hand the coarseness described by the ambassador and feel that there are indeed many aspects of Ireland and Irish society worthy of criticism.
I have always felt the Irish government could learn a great deal from countries such as Germany and France - nations which have done much to avoid squandering their wealth and prosperity. In any case, the reaction of Gay Mitchell - a humourless and most uninspiring man - to the ambassador's comments shows the worst side of Ireland: an overblown self-importance and a failure to accept criticism constructively. - Yours, etc,
NIALL O'HIGGINS,
San Francisco,
USA.
Madam, - Would the German Ambassador have caused less offence if he had translated his speech into Irish? - Is mise,
STEPHEN SHAW,
Rathfarnham,
Dublin 16.