RYLE DWYER’S article on the Presidency (Analysis, Oct 18) reminded me of a story my late father told me many years ago.

THE content of David Norris’s rather pompous and verbose letter to the Israeli court on behalf of his former partner does not concern me.

THE kneejerk reaction of the Government to the Cloyne Report and their intention to bring a bill to the Dáil, forcing priests to report to the gardaí incidents of child abuse heard during the sacrament of confession, just shows how this government misunderstands the purpose of the sacrament.

BRIAN P O CINNEIDE states: “The US Military Academy at West Point is one of the finest engineering universities in the world. All its graduates are qualified engineers.”

MICHAEL JOB (June 11) asks how American military cadets can help Irish students in engineering.

THE 14 Irishmen, including the captain of the forthcoming British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa, are to be heartily congratulated for bringing such an honour to their country.

IN his letter (February 28), FR Baigel of Bury, Manchester, says “the French term for England — Angleterre — means End of the Earth.

YOUR report (January 22) that some people want to sue Anglo-Irish Bank shows that the ‘compo’ culture still lives in Ireland.

IN his letter (January 10), Brendan Cafferty questions the protocol of the Taoiseach and Government ministers attending the funeral of Tony Gregory TD and not that of Dr Conor Cruise O’Brien.

IN his letter (January 7), Brian P Ó Cinneide says “it would be foolish in the extreme” to accept men released from Guantanomo Bay because “these detainees come from a culture in which there are elements seeking to take over the world”.

YOU applaud the proposal for Ireland to accept some prisoners from the US prison at Guantanamo Bay (December 29) and refer to them as “guests”.