Sir, - I hope Verona Ni Bhroinn, Public Relations Officer of Dail Eireann (January 12th), will not be too disappointed if a number of people fail to be impressed by her response to Mr Colley's letter (January 9th) and her defence of TDs who, she confirms, sat for 81 days, or 2.6 months, in 1997.The first thing that people will find extraordinary is that TDs who are elected to speak for the people find it necessary to have a public relations officer speak for them. Ms Ni Bhroinn tells us that in addition to, or coincident with, the 81 days there were 230 committee meetings. Would she care to tell us how many man-hours were involved? Does Ms Ni Bhroinn include in "the many and varied functions and commitments of a TD which are obvious to constituents" attendance at weddings, wakes and funerals? Could she tell us exactly what expenses a TD gets and if, as Mr Colly states, they are unvouched, how can she be sure they are legitimate? - Yours, etc.,F J Fitzsimons,Drumbracken,Carrickmacross,Co Monaghan.