Sir, - Introducing his Constitution to the Dail in 1937, Mr de Valera clearly and firmly stated that he wanted someone outside and above political parties to act as ceremonial head of state". He was even clearer at the Fianna Fail Ard Fheis the same year: "They didn't want a party man at the head of the State."
Why and where did we go wrong? We've got poets and playwrights, scientists and scholars, men and women of distinction, with international reputations in. many fields. Please, please not another politician! - Yours, etc.,
Park Avenue,
Dublin 4.