Madam, - John Bruton's appointment as EU ambassador to Washington is an immense privilege for Ireland, and he may well play a central role in enhancing US-EU relations.
Although his party colleagues are overtly expressing similar laudatory sentiments, some Fine Gael members must also be concerned that the party will enter one of the most important general election campaigns in its history without its former taoiseach available to play a prominent role.
In addition, one of Fine Gael's most effective and popular TDs, Gay Mitchell, has less time for Dáil business by virtue of having been elected an MEP.
Of Fine Gael's 31 TDs, seven were newly elected in 2002, one was elected in 2001, one in 1998, and six in 1997. This means that - presuming a Fine Gael victory in the by-election to replace John Bruton - unless its candidate in Meath is a previous member of the Dáil the party will enter the general election with over half of its incumbent TDs having only a few years' parliamentary experience. And although several TDs have served for short spells as Ministers of State, only the party's present leader, deputy leader, and most recent former leader have served in cabinet.
This lack of experience does not necessarily presage electoral misfortune. Britain's New Labour is a case in point. However, in trying to compose a cabinet with coalition colleagues of even lesser experience, the party may well rue the day that Bruton went to Washington.
Equally, if Bush wins in November and America's present international policies become even less considerate of the Franco-German perspective, then the Meath man, who played such a central role on the Praesidium of the Convention of a new EU Treaty, may himself rue the day he went to Washington to become the ambassador of a Union to which the Americans will pay only lip-service. - Yours etc.,
ANDREW GREANEY, Castle Avenue, Clontarf, Dublin 3.