Scrutinising the right

Sir, - Kevin Myers is nearly always interesting and, at his best, is thought-provoking and challenging

Sir, - Kevin Myers is nearly always interesting and, at his best, is thought-provoking and challenging. Anyone who challenges one to reflect on apparently well grounded and developed views is worth reading.

Notwithstanding the above, Kevin appears to be preoccupied with challenging positions frequently, although not exclusively, taken up by the left. I have in mind the issue of Travellers' rights, the campaign to secure debt cancellation in respect of "Third World" countries, the rights of minorities and, more recently, the Declaration against Racism.

No doubt there have been occasional weaknesses in some of the arguments put forward by proponents of the above issues and therefore they should be subject to intellectual scrutiny. The pattern of Kevin's pieces in your newspaper would suggest a reluctance to subject the more substantial, fundamental and inherently damaging positions of the right to the same scrutiny. This is all the more to be regretted when given the ascendancy of the right on a global scale in matters economic, political and ecclesiastical. - Yours, etc.,

Nessan Vaughan, Ashcroft, Raheny, Dublin 5.