Madam, - One of Europe's greatest assets is its cultural diversity. In the enlarged European Union it is essential that such diversity be respected and allowed to flourish.
It is entirely appropriate that the culture and languages of smaller countries such as Malta, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia be accorded the same respect as those of larger nations.
These small, but self-confident, countries have ensured that this will be the case by requiring that their own languages be designated official working languages of the Union. Ireland and Irish should be no different.
We fully support the demand to have Irish made an official working language of the European Union. - Yours, etc.,
Prof SÉAN Ó COILEÁIN, University College, Cork; Prof SEOSAMH WATSON, Prof P.A. BREATNACH, University College, Dublin; Prof Ruaií Ó hUiginn, NUI Maynooth; Dr Gearóid Denvir, NUI Galway.