Talking about 'non-nationals'

Madam, - Kevin Myers is uncharacteristically stumped by the term "non-national", so much on Irish lips these days (An Irishman's Diary, September 14th). It arises, of course, by simple analogy with the very familiar term "non-Catholic".

Both terms are freighted with the same hazy imprecision and, at times, with the same level of intentional misrepresentation of, and even distaste for, those to whom they are applied. - Yours, etc,

HUGO BRADY BROWN,

Stratford on Slaney,

Co Wicklow.