Madam, - President Sarkozy is not demanding that the Irish people have a second referendum on the treaty.
President Sarkozy is suggesting that a second referendum be held in Ireland and that the Irish people consider the wisdom of such an act. I am not a great admirer of Mr Sarkozy's politics, but Libertas and others must stop the continual lying on this issue.
The president of France has the right to have his voice heard in Ireland just as any Irish citizen has the right to have their voice heard in France. May I also ask the media to stop misrepresenting what the President of France is saying? - Yours, etc,
VINCENT J. LAVERY, Coliemore Road, Dalkey, Co Dublin.
Madam, - Mr Sarkozy is President of France where, we understand, liberté, égalité aand fraternité are qualities held dear. He should ponder the meaning of these words in the current context.
Ireland as an independent nation has the liberté to vote as it wishes in a referendum and the égalité to be treated equally to France. (Ireland rejected a "treaty" which is virtually the same as the "constitution" the French nation had already rejected, giving Bertie Ahern the task of "fixing" the problems identified by the French electorate.)
Finally Ireland has the right to expect a benign fraternité and not blatant interference or implied threats from the head of another state.
Mr. Sarkozy should note that the Irish do not like to be pushed around - and are quite likely to say "Non" again if they perceive that there is a "schoolmarm" attitude coming from gentlemen such as Mr Sarkozy.
The Lisbon Treaty is dead whether we like it or not (I was one who voted yes), so bring in the guillotine, Mr Sarkozy, and finish the job.
It's time for fresh thinking. Europe has indeed been good for Ireland, but so too has Ireland has been good for Europe. - Yours, etc,
DÉAGLÁN DE PAOR, Droichead Nua, Co Kildare.
Madam, - Perhaps Proinsias Mac Fhearghusa (July 17th) does not realise that President Sarkozy is not only "the head of a sister republic" who is trying to "influence the internal affairs of this republic", but he is the current president of the member-state which holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
It is my opinion that the current president of the EU has a responsibility to come here and address this crisis in person. It would be foolish to believe this is merely an isolated and internal constitutional problem.
Perhaps Mr Mac Fhearghusa should reconsider his claims of incursions into Irish sovereignty and consider the entirety of the issues involved. - Yours, etc,
RORY KAVANAGH, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16.
Madam, - NON, non de rien. NON, je ne regrette rien. Comprenez-vous, M Sarkozy? - Yours, etc,
GERRY MOLLOY, Ailesbury Lawn, Dublin 16.