Sir, – Further to Fintan O'Toole's "How hopes the convention raised were dashed" (Opinion & Analysis, March 3rd), a very sad comment on the Convention on the Constitution was made by a member of one of the civic groups which took part. He was impressed by the politicians he met. Their ideas had been carefully thought through and they wanted to contribute to building the real democracy which we have never had. He was treated with respect. He was listened to. And then he said that it was a "crying shame" that those qualities had to be left behind on the steps when the politicians returned to Dáil Éireann. All that promise has turned out to be yet another empty soundbite. – Yours, etc,
MAEVE KENNEDY,
Rathgar,
Dublin 6.