Madam, - Apart from the obvious damage already done to the present administration by its inept Budget, I fear there is another potentially lethal iceberg in the waters ahead of Mr Cowen and his colleagues.
If this Government is to lead us into another referendum on the Lisbon Treaty within the next six months, no matter what tweaking it might do, such a referendum will be seen by many, many voters as their only opportunity to pass a verdict on the Budget.
Almost certainly, the referendum is doomed to fail again. That is a nightmare scenario for Ireland and the EU. I believe, therefore, it is now time for Mr Cowen to consider his position and his options.
Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan asked us all to be patriots. Mr Cowen, Mr Lenihan and other Cabinet members: ask not what your country can do for you. . . - Yours, etc,