Sir, I look forward greatly to engaging with Conor Cruise O'Brien should our paths cross at the Northern Ireland Talks and Forum on June 10th.
As a former civil servant of the Republic myself, I will take the opportunity of reminding Conor of his obligations under Article 9.2 of Bunreacht na hEireann ("Fidelity to the nation and loyalty to the State are fundamental duties of all citizens") which as a minister he was bound to uphold, of his signing of the Republic's official Secrets Act and allied regulations, and of the significance for ex-ministers of the recently reinforced provisions in relation to Cabinet confidentiality.
All of these, I will argue, seriously compromise his potential as a unionist negotiator in discussions with Dublin representatives and amount to a most critical conflict of interest.
I will also remind him of his receipt of a Republican ministerial pension to which I expect his response will be "No Surrender". Yours, etc.,
(Labour candidate for Fermanagh/South Tyrone and former Department of Finance official),
Wheatfields Court
Clondalkin,
Dublin 22.