Sir, - The Nice Treaty clears the way institutionally for the admission of Eastern European countries into the EU. In its scope, this development will be without parallel since the major reshapings of Europe at the Congress of Vienna (1915) and the Versailles Peace Conference (1919).
Although Wellington and Castlereagh were present at the first, the Irish people were in no way represented. At the second, Sean T. O Ceallaigh and his colleagues were refused a hearing. This time, we are a sovereign participant in the whole process, which cannot go ahead without our consent.
Previous generations would have marvelled greatly at our enjoyment of that privilege and responsibility. Might they not also be dismayed if they knew that some of today's citizens are apathetic and ignorant about what is involved and that others, on the basis of ignorance and misinformation, propose to reject, ungenerously, the historic opportunity offered on June 7th?
And would they have been entirely impressed by the lead given by our elected politicians on this momentous issue? - Yours, etc.,
D. M. Neligan, Silchester Road, Glenageary, Co Dublin.