Now repealers need to reach out to No voters
THE recent abortion referendum has created divisions in our society and I worry that it may take a while for this to heal.
A referendum is a very fair way to solve a contentious issue in society but by its nature there will be a losing side. While the abortion referendum had a decisive result, a not-insignificant number of people voted against the proposal. We all have a duty not to alienate these people, otherwise divisions that are already there will be magnified and this will have repercussions for us all.
The Good Friday Agreement ‘solved’ the Troubles in Northern Ireland but the two communities remain as divided as ever, each community gravitating towards extreme parties.
There is a danger that the No minority will feel further excluded over time.
Repealers need to reach out to No voters like myself and see how we can all work to reduce the abortion rates in Ireland.
On the other hand there is no point in No voters retreating into their bunkers and harking back to an Ireland that is long gone.
The provision of abortion in Ireland recognises a reality that has been here for years. We all need to work together to help provide better sex education to our young people, free contraception and better services for pregnant women.
All of this will help bring down the abortion rates, something we are all agreed on.
Tommy Roddy, Galway.
The debate goes on
I am fed up listening to Dr Peter Boylan. He is on TV and in the newspapers.
Is he trying to go down in Irish history or has he his eye on the Presidency? It’s all very sad, because the No side never really had a chance from the beginning.
I suppose we can expect euthanasia next.
Maureen Masterson , by email.
…HOW can the legalising of the termination of the life of a voiceless innocent be a subject for jubilant celebration?
What kind of a victory is the killing of innocent defenceless little humans?
Ireland has certainly changed. It’s less caring and protective, it’s more insular. Is this progress? Is this the society we want ?
We should celebrate life, not destroy it.
Margaret Walshe, Clonsilla, Dublin 15,
Intolerant Joan
INDEPENDENT 4 Change TD Joan Collins let her and her party down when after the result of the referendum was known she said of Senator Rónán Mullen: ‘I implore people on the NUI panel to register and vote out Mullins. Obviously because he’s in the vanguard of Catholic reactionaries but also because I’ve had to share a corridor with him for seven years. If not for his extremism, then for my workspace’ (MoS Smokes & Daggers, May 27).
Is this also the intolerant position of Ms Collins’s colleagues in the Independents 4 Change Party TD’s Mick Wallace and Clare Daly? Aren’t these some of the TDs that called the Catholic Church and its members intolerant?
Denis Dennehy, Dublin
Papal disputes
I WOULD like to inform fellow Corkman John O’Sullivan on his ignorance of the Catholic faith (MoS letters, May 27). John, hell will burn over before a plenary indulgence will get you out of it. Purgatory, perhaps, is what you meant!
James Carroll, by email.
…FURTHER to the correspondence regarding the forthcoming papal visit to Ireland, I am wondering if His Holiness will issue indulgences to the paedophile priests and bishops who abused and vilified the children of the orphanages and industrial schools under the auspices of the Catholic Church.
Liam Dungan, Waterford city.
Toilet travesty
THE chronic need for the provision of public toilets in Dublin is an appalling indictment of past and present city councillors who like to project Dublin as a modern European capital city.
If past exertions by our city fathers on this issue is an indication of future endeavours, then Ireland will remain a third world country when it comes to providing public conveniences.
With almost 10 million tourists visiting Ireland last year, the dearth of public toilets is a scandal that ridicules the Draft Dublin City Development Plan 2016-2022 calling for the provision of more toilets.
Dublin City Council continues to abdicate its responsibility to provide this service and seems content to rely on shopping centres and private outlets.
With an increasing number of pubs and hotels displaying signs advising people toilets are for customer use only, one is expected to spend money purchasing food or drink in advance of using the toilet.
And to think this country had aspirations to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup finals and even flirted with the idea of bidding for the Olympic Games.
Tom Cooper, Dublin 6w.