Sir, - I have just returned from two trade union meetings with European colleagues. There were a considerable number of delegates present at both meetings from central and eastern Europe. Most were front-line union officials doing their best on a daily basis to defend the economic interests of their members.
All of them wanted to know why the Irish people had voted No to the Treaty of Nice. It was repeatedly made clear that our No vote was seen as a vote against enlargement.
Even though I myself had voted Yes, I tried to explain that the Irish people had voted No for a variety of reasons, very few of which had to do with enlargement.
My explanations cut no ice. As far as they were concerned the Irish vote had placed a major road-block in the path of enlargement - irrespective of what we might like to think.
How could we do it?, they wanted to know. We, who had benefited so much from EU membership, were now in effect denying the same chance to them.
Maybe some of those who led the No campaign might consider visiting central and eastern Europe and explaining how the Irish referendum outcome would be of benefit to the people there. I certainly couldn't. - Yours, etc.,
Tom Hayes, Brussels, Belgium.