A painless and non-republican way of creating a united Ireland POINT

AS one who would love to see our country united, I fully concur with John Fair’s letter (Mail, yesterday) that Ireland should give some consideration to joining the Commonwealth.

May I suggest that, as things presently stand, Ireland will never see unification, but by joining the Commonwealth would automatically make that a reality. HARRY STEPHENSON,

Kircubbin, Co. Down.

The McGuigan example

REGARDING John Fair’s letter (Mail, yesterday): if an athlete from the Republic of Ireland wants to participate in the Commonwealth Games, do what Barry McGuigan did, obtain a British passport.

DAVID SMYTH, Co. Leitrim.

Limits of sex education

I’VE just read your newspaper in relation to sex education (Mail, yesterday).

I contend that the focus on consent is to miss the point that certain sexual encounters are dangerous, for instance sex with a group of strangers.

With regard to teaching children the dangers of social media, this is typical of the political drivel that transfers moral responsibility for child safety to the child.

I would also question the competency of those devising the programmes, and believe your journalism displays a realistic yet principled approach to this matter.

DEREK TONER, by email.

This isn’t justice

THERE are still two months or so to go until the referendum, but I have already decided in favour of retaining the current constitutional position on abortion.

I have given the matter serious consideration and my mind keeps coming back to the same question: is it right to intentionally end the life of an innocent and defenceless unborn child when both its life and that of its mother can be preserved? I believe not.

There are two lives in pregnancy, and the law and Constitution currently deny anybody the right to deliberately end either of them.

No matter how imperfect, at least it is a genuine attempt to assign an appropriate level of dignity to a life whose level of development on that precarious journey from conception to birth and beyond, makes it an easy target.

The proposed constitutional change will allow the Dáil to legislate for facilitating the deliberate and premature destruction of innocent life, for all reasons and for none.

Please don’t try to tell me this is about justice, fairness, equality or compassion. This is our last chance. It is theirs as well.

JOY O’DRISCOLL, Inniscarra, Co. Cork.

Can’t stand teachers

ONCE again the media is swimming in teacher union coverage. The next days will cover everything except the education of children.

Not the poor results at second level in major urban population centres. Not the sick records and otherwise poor attendance of teachers. Not the inept and incompetent teachers.

There will be no mention of, or comparison made, with classroom sizes in urban and rural areas and the benefits and disadvantages associated. Not the teacher-student ratio in those locations.

The majority of those at teacher rank will have come from the latter rural sectors, having enjoyed superior educational opportunities and will have no interest in raising these issues.

Having acquired a permanent and pensionable position, many will leave that position in the sure knowledge of security of tenure and travel abroad to a tax-free, sun-filled community for a couple of years and having used that position to travel the world, will return home to reclaim their job with the price of a house saved. It’s tough for some, but not the teachers of this country.

HARRY MULHERN, Dublin.