PLEASE allow me to take issue with Senator David Norris's comments (24 June) where he claims that the British Queen is a lot more Irish than most republicans.

History shows that most Irish always aped royalists, and probably still do, and would flock like sheep to any royal visit.

However, I am sure that the good senator is aware that it was Oliver Cromwell's parliamentarians, Anabaptists, puritans, republicans and independents, who formed the hard core of his model army who introduced the concept of republicanism to Ireland in the 1650s and that many of their descendants who settled here came out on the side of the united Irishmen in 1798.

I myself detest royalty, class and social privilege inequality, racism and corruption - where does this leave the majority of Irish people today considering the recent general elections? Is it time for a rebirth of the united Irish movement?

Michael Kunz, Ballyphilip, Kilcoole, Co Wicklow.

Glaring omission of 1956 hurling final

YOUR excellent selection of top Munster hurling finals (Mad About Sport, 24 June) had one glaring omission - the 1956 final.

Limerick, the holders, were coasting to victory, six points in front and Christy Ring being subdued by Donal Broderick.

Then, Ringey changed his hurley, scored three goals in five minutes and added a point just to prove what a wonderful hurler he was. Limerick took some time to recover from that seismic shock but it's nice to see them back this year.

Peadar Cronin, Meadowgrove, Ballyvolane, Cork.

Seanad should have northern members

KEVIN RAFTER'S article on the need to reform Seanad �ireann (News, 24 June) was most interesting. We should also reform the Seanad by having one senator from each county, regardless of size or population.

We are also capable of formulating a system whereby the Seanad does not become a springboard for aspiring TDs and a semi-retirement home for defeated TDs. Pending the reintegration of the national territory, we should have an electoral college representing the six counties' Irish to choose their six senators. This electoral college in practice at the present time would consist of SF, the SDLP, Sinn F�in Poblachtach, The 32 Counties' Sovereignty Committee, the GAA, Conradh na Gaeilge etc.

I do not include any Unionists, of any type, in the proposed six counties' electoral college for the very simple reason that I now outline. The best way to listen is to repeat what the other chap says. If we listen in the North, we will hear the Unionists - of whom quite a few are Catholics, especially east of the Bann as revealed by voting figures - proclaim to anybody who will give them the time of day, ad nauseam et ad infinitum that they, the Unionists, are not Irish that they are the British presence in the North. We should recognise them as such, and then force them to accept the negative consequences of their own actions and statements for themselves. In the same vein there are Irish men and women all over our country, from a place in west Cork called An Gleann Garbh, to a place in north Antrim called An Gleann Garbh, who are Protestants, Jews, Muslims, Hindus etc.

As the proposed composition of the Seanad is non-democratic, as opposed to undemocratic, the government of the day should have the right to nominate 18 senators. Personally, I would like these 18 senators to be reflective of the many minorities in our country, especially those that have arrived over the last 15 years, all of whom make a very positive contribution to Ireland.

Additionally, I reckon that we will establish the Seanad as an important House in its own right by having the 32 elected members elected every six years, regardless of D�il elections.

The above proposal will, I believe, produce 50 senators whose primary function is running the country.

M�che�l � B�arra, An Spid�al, Gaillimh.

What rules apply to Beverley Flynn?

I WONDER why Bertie has capitulated so suddenly to the demands of Beverley Flynn, TD - a promise of a junior ministry even before her court action was determined.

Beverley Flynn says all she did was what she was told by the banks to do, as all the others were at it at the time. Fair enough. But when RT� and Charlie Bird reported this, she took a slander action, went into the high court, cried and said she did not sell those packages tax-free at all. Evidence was produced that she did and witnessses were called - no stepsof-court settlement offer was made. A jury said they did not believe her, and the Supreme Court confirmed that. That is the nub of the matter. If she had never taken the action, nothing would come of it, but she was hoisted on her own petard.

And when does one purge this slur according to the rules of FF? Three years ago it was an expelling offence, now it can be eradicated. What rules apply?

Brendan Cafferty, Ballina, Co Mayo.

Irish farmers are not conservationists

THE farmer-led opposition to the reintroduction of the whitetailed sea eagle to the Irish countryside exposes the farming lobby to the claim that they are anti-conservation. For years the farming lobby have claimed that without their conservation efforts the Irish countryside would disappear. The very existence of flora and fauna in the Irish countryside was dependent on the Irish farmer getting out of bed in the morning to do a day's work.

Farmers would like to portray themselves as guardians of the countryside, tuning into Mother Earth's frequency as they use their special powers when it comes to dealing with animals.

Methinks farmers are spending too much time inhaling slurry tank fumes if they believe that.

If we left the protection of the environment and animals to farmers we would end up with a countryside devoid of wildlife, covered in concrete and with our rivers and streams reeking of pollution.

The new-found concern for sheep welfare by Kerry sheep farmers masks the fact that animal welfare standards are less than ideal on Irish farms. A weekly trawl through the national and local newspapers will show many court cases of farm animal cruelty and news reports of farm animal neglect.

Never forget, farmers are in the animal production industry, not the animal welfare industry.

Farmers only look after their animals providing they add to the farmer's income. Of course there are farmers who possibly look after their livestock better than themselves but, for many farmers, animal welfare is an alien costly concept within their factory farming system.

Apart from direct animal abuse, farmers inch towards promoting animal abuse by their involvement in the live animal export trade, allowing live hunting to take place on their land, and their lack of long-term thinking when it comes to environmental protection. The issue of the white-tailed sea eagle is a case in point.

Anybody, regardless of their postal address, is entitled to comment on farming and its role in society. The spotlight of truth is now shining on the farm gate. Farmers and organisations that represent them need to accept that. The eagle eye is watching in more ways than one.

John Tierney, Campaigns Director, Association of Hunt Saboteurs, PO Box 4734, Dublin 1.

PC the cause of Irish democratic deficit

IRELAND has the highest rate of unrestricted immigration worldwide. However, the Irish people have yet to engage in open debate. The mass media have hardly helped.

National self-determination entails widespread public discussion. Hence popular sovereignty. Yet 'political correctness' remains responsible for the democratic deficit.

John A Barnwell, 5 St Patrick's Road, Dublin 9.

Make Tara into a national park

MOST of us know in our heart and soul what could and should become of The Tara/Skryne Valley.

Through compulsory purchase orders, the state now owns the centre or heart of the valley. A tract of land riddled with rich archaeological sites that should collectively be known as The Tara/ Skryne Valley World Heritage National Park.

All that is required now is to back off the destruction machinery, employ people to repair some of the damage and go on to create a unique visitor park of world status.

In the sincere hope that Minister Gormley is as green and powerful as the valley, that the taoiseach is becoming greener by the minute and that between them they'll reroute the concrete corridor and sanction The Tara/Skryne Valley World Heritage National Park.

Terry Tuit, Goleen, West Cork.