Madam, - The actions of Sinn Féin's Gerry Kelly in restraining a Catholic mob from violence highlights a serious dilemma for the Irish Government in regard to the Northern situation.
By any objective standards, Kelly's actions were commendable. Presumably, Bertie Ahern and Brian Cowen will be hoping that Peter Robinson, Jeffrey Donaldson, and other DUP members will take note of Kelly's actions and be encouraged to enter government with Sinn Féin.
And yet, here in the safer South, Government spokespersons warn us of dire consequences of giving power to the same Sinn Féin.
Willie O'Dea mutters darkly about American investors fleeing from investing in this country if Sinn Féin gain more political influence. But Sinn Féin promote the same economic policies for the North of Ireland and we are not warning Robinson and Donaldson about the timid American business investors.
Remember that, because of the political make-up in the two jurisdictions, Sinn Féin will have far more economic influence in the North. Perhaps Bertie Ahern and Brian Cowen should caution their colleagues about the consequences of intemperate utterance. - Yours, etc.,
JIM McCARTHY, Serpentine Road, Sandymount, Dublin 4.