Madam, - It would appear that the British and Irish governments are beginning the long and difficult process of rebuilding the political process in Northern Ireland. I support them in their efforts and wish them well.
Confidence has been shattered by the republican movement and there will be no permanent solution without the support of the people of Ireland expressed through their political representatives.
How do we rebuild confid-ence? It seems obvious what needs to happen: the IRA must retire itself and Sinn Féin must join the Policing Board in Northern Ireland. That is the will of all the other parties on this island, so I think we can assume it is the will of the vast majority of Irish people.
So, as the governments contemplate how to rebuild the peace process, it is essential that they lay down a clear and simple ground rule which reflects the consensus on this island on policing. Sinn Féin must not be allowed to trade its support for policing in Northern Ireland for political concessions elsewhere. It should express support for policing as a genuine confidence-building measure to indicate that it no longer holds a private army, supports the PSNI and is surrendering control of so-called republican areas to an accountable police service.
It is time for Sinn Féin to heed the will of the Irish people. It is time for the IRA to retire. The days of trading the security and policing of communities in Northern Ireland for the release of a bank robber or two are gone. - Yours, etc.,
CONALL MCDEVITT, Belfast 9.
Madam, - Bank raids, money-laundering, the killing of a Sinn Féin supporter, evidence that the last six of the hunger strikers died for nothing, and now the expulsion of seven members. Sinn Féin is having a very bad few months. Many people in the party have finally realised what everyone else has known for the past decade: that the Provos and their gangsterism are the main obstacle to the party achieving political power.
One big problem is the party leader since 1983 - who, of course, is not a member of the IRA. Mr Adams is the main obstacle to the party dropping the Provos, returning to serious grown-up politics, and working to deliver the results their supporters need.
Sinn Féin could swiftly become a legitimate political party with legitimate political aspirations, but not with Mr Adams hanging around its neck. It is hard to see why he is still party leader. Any other democratic party in Western Europe would have handed him his cards last month.
Meanwhile, Mr McGuinness is looking increasingly restive, and if he is sincere in calling for "an Ireland based on equality, justice, rights and empowerment" he might be advised to launch a leadership bid very soon. - Yours, etc.,
Dr ANTHONY STAINES, The Park, Skerries, Co Dublin.
Madam, - Let Sinn Féin put its money where its mouth is: Gerry Adams, Martin McGuinness, Gerry Kelly and Alex Maskey could accompany to PSNI offices any witnesses to the McCartney murder who were willing to give hard evidence that could be used in court, under guarantee of their protection from IRA intimidation. - Yours, etc.,
INGRID MASTERSON, Ardtona Avenue, Churchtown, Dublin 14.
Madam, - So Vincent Browne (Opinion, March 2nd) thinks that "the Sinn Féin long-term agenda is to respectabilise itself". Leaving aside the future of Sinn Féin, I weep at the mangling of the English language.
Surely we are entitled to a better standard of English from a noted and respected journalist. - Yours, etc.,
HELEN MORIARTY, Bayview Drive, Wexford.