Sir, - In view of the facts that Ireland is a republic, the people therefore being pre-eminent;
Ireland is a democracy, within which we, the people, elect specific individuals to represent us with no consequent rights of representation conferred on spouses, partners or the like;
the people's money is involved - not the government's;
could a protocol that properly reflects these now be put in place? This would require invitations to State receptions to be worded: "On behalf of the People of Ireland, An Taoiseach invites. . ."
As well as being a correct statement of the reality, this would also avoid the unseemly controversy, the insensitivities and the sensitivities associated with a recent such event. - Yours, etc.,
Noel H. McDonagh, Bird Avenue, Dublin 14.