It was lovely to hear about your values, Taoiseach. Now let’s see them in action

DEAR TAOISEACH, I hope you don’t my writing to you about this, but it’s something I really feel strongly about.

You spoke very effectively, I'm told, at the conference in Croke Park organised by the Commission for Justice and Social Affairs last week. I wasn't there myself, but I've spoken to a number of people who were, and they were very impressed by your take on the Catholic Church's impact on Irish social policy.

What really seemed to make an impact on people was your expression of a personal philosophy and set of values that were, in your own words, bound up with the dignity of the person. The expression of human dignity as a core value for a powerful man was an important milestone, many felt.