Ahern's Seanad nominees

Madam, - Since Eoghan Harris was nominated to the Seanad, much has been made of his shifting political affiliations.

Madam, - Since Eoghan Harris was nominated to the Seanad, much has been made of his shifting political affiliations.

However, if we consider those southern political figures with whom he has been associated since the 1960s - Cathal Goulding, Proinsias De Rossa, Mary Robinson, John Bruton, and Bertie Ahern - then a clear consistency is evident: support for politicians who have made a serious effort to engage constructively with the identity and rights of Northern Unionists. - Yours, etc,

Prof HENRY PATTERSON, University of Ulster, Jordanstown, Co Antrim.