Sir, - An Internet query to Rod O'Donoghue who runs the O'Donoghue genealogy website in London revealed that there are 29,550 O'Donoghues listed in US phone books, 3,950 in the UK, 2,000 in Canada and 1,500 in Australia plus a smattering in other countries. Compare that with about 3,200 in Ireland.
I wonder how many of these people, or their ancestors, who share the Justice Minister's name were "genuine" or "deserving" when they showed up in their new homes. By the Minister's standards, probably not many. - Yours, etc.,
David Murphy, Beijing. China.