Sir, - Your Editorial (May 14th), missed one crucial point regarding the several own goals scored in Dublin Castle recently: the Taoiseach's relationship to our Constitution. As Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern acts as an important defender of the Irish Constitution which, it must be noted, caters for marriage, divorce and remarriage. Whether we like it or not all leaders symbolically verify our world for us. Therefore, it is the Taoiseach's duty to verify the situation regarding marriage and re-marriage that is outlined in our Constitution. But our Taoiseach is, in reality, not living as a married man. Nor is he divorced or re-married. Privately, all this is none of our business but politically it definitely is. Therefore, the Taoiseach does not uphold our Constitution with respect to marriage, divorce or re-marriage. All official invitations which include the name of Ms Larkin are thus politically inappropriate as your Editorial has hinted.
The deed being done, however, it was particularly sad that Bertie Ahern then chose to hide Ms Larkin from view in Dublin Castle. In failing to acknowledge Ms Larkin by her inclusion in the welcoming party, the Taoiseach denied her publicly. That denial also relegated her to the traditional role of women. That action, on both accounts was a disgrace.
Symbolically speaking, there is no such thing as a superficial political row. Now we know much more about our leader. Bertie Ahern does not respect our Constitution. As such he may be judged to be a poor leader. Even sadder, despite his "modernity", our Taoiseach has confirmed the traditionalist view of women: not fit for public responsibility. Can the Taoiseach be accused of hypocrisy as well? All this is written in admiration of Ms Larkin's continuous dignified handling of public events. - Yours, etc.,
Dr Valerie Bresnihan, Woodbine Road, Booterstown, Co Dublin.