Madam, - It is disappointing that Rossa Fanning should label as "zealots" those who have shown an interest in the forthcoming Lisbon Treaty referendum (Opinion & Analysis, April 22nd).
If the public is wholly ill-informed, as Mr Fanning says, there is no reason to believe that our TDs are any better informed. Indeed, there is good reason to believe they will be only too happy to do the bidding of their party leaders rather than risk censure and possibly their careers hampered by opposing the party line.
Having a referendum encourages engagement - and, hopefully, identification - with the European Union.
It also promotes debate on the many issues involved - an example being the concept of harmonisation of the corporate tax base throughout the EU.
Mr Fanning may be happy to entrust our TDs with this issue but many of us are not. - Yours, etc,
GEARÓID Ó DUBHÁIN, Mount Oval Village, Rochestown, Co Cork.