Playing the game?

An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, has made several demands for Ireland's European Championship qualifiying matches to be shown on free-to-air TV.

It seems to have totally escaped him, however, that RTÉ is anything but free. The TV licence fee of 107 must be paid, whether you watch the channels or not. At least it is optional to subscribe to Sky.

Thomas Ralph,

7, Hazelwood Drive,

Glanmire,

Co Cork.