Sir, - The headline "Minister rebuffs bishops over refugees" has prompted a reader to suggest (April 29th) that the Minister is "either foolhardy or very confident of public opinion". I would propose the latter on the basis that Fianna Fail has always been adept at taking the temperature of the electorate. However, one could never tell from reading the letters page of The Irish Times, where for the past several months the "come one, come all" brigade has had a free run, encouraged no doubt by an editorial stance which must by now be trying the patience of many of your subscribers. - Yours, etc.,
Conor O'Brien, Mount Anville Park, Dublin 14.
The letters published on this subject, as on others, are a fair reflection of the letters received, subject to the constraints of libel and decency. - Ed., IT.