Sir, - John Waters (May 21st) gravely misrepresents a speech I made last year welcoming the Prince of Wales in Dublin. As should be evident from the rest of my speech then, the words I used were of praise for the Prince's personal work to support community development and reconciliation generally, and of encouragement for him in dealing under the public gaze with private difficulties. As Taoiseach, I speak in similar friendly and personal terms to many others of our overseas guests, but that does not mean that I wish Ireland to be absorbed into the nationalities of those countries, as Mr Waters pretends to believe. This will continue to apply to visitors from "Britain, the United States, or any other country, where such courteous comments are appropriate.
Earlier in his article, Mr Waters says that it is wrong to show balance in regard to Northern Ireland and to reach out to the unionist community, because he says unionists have always said "no". This is a counsel of despair. Just as I believe unionists must accept nationalists for what they are, so too must we come to accept unionists for what they are. A sense of being British is a very important part of the unionist ethos, and that is something that must be respected if there is to be a true coming together between us.
As I indicated recently, mutual respect between the two traditions, without domination by either, will be required for a lasting settlement of divisions on, this island. - Yours etc
Taoiseach
Office of the Taoiseach, Government Buildings, Dublin 2.