Lost Vowel

Sir, - Listening to News at One on RTE the other day, I was interested in the report on the matter of the EU fine arising from…

Sir, - Listening to News at One on RTE the other day, I was interested in the report on the matter of the EU fine arising from irregularities in the beef industry. The announcer told us that the Taoiseach was adamant that the lack of action was down to the lost (my italics) government.

I found this puzzling as, in common with a lot of people, I consider the present arrangement to be the lost government!

Then I realised he was referring to the previous government, or what ordinary English-speakers would call the last government. I just cannot get the hand of RTEese! Yours, etc., John Newman,

Dublin 11.