Sir, Prior to the announcement of the transfer of Patrick Kelly, the Taoiseach, Mr Bruton stated that it would not be "appropriate" to discuss the contents of his recent telephone conversation with John Major.
Subsequent to his statement and in the course of welcoming the transfer, the Minister for Justice, Mrs Owen, stated on the Morning Ireland programme that the Taoiseach had indeed discussed his transfer while speaking to John Major.
Would it be "appropriate" for me to suggest that when political capital rears its ugly head, that the speed with which it overtakes certain stated standards can be inappropriate? Yours, etc., City Hall, Dublin 2.