Sir, - Gearoid O Bradaigh (October 29th) rightly points out that the word "shainraite", meaning "expressly", is used in the first paragraph of the Irish language version of the statement of the case in favour of the proposed Constitutional amendment on cabinet confidentiality which appeared in newspapers recently. The word "intuigthe", meaning "implicitly" should have been used. Your correspondent suggests that the discrepancy raises a number of questions including whether an amendment to the Constitution is necessary. I would like to assure your readers that the arguments in Irish and English for and against the proposed amendment, as published in the newspapers, are not affected by the incorrect use of the word "shainraite".
The purpose of the proposed Constitutional amendment is to refine the position as determined by the Supreme Court in 1992 (i.e. that discussions of the cabinet are absolutely confidential) by allowing for disclosure of cabinet discussions in two defined circumstances. - Yours, etc.,
Secretary, Ad hoc Commission on Referendum Information, 52 St Stephen's Green, Dublin 2.