A chara, – It appears that Anthea McTeirnan has missed the whole point of the census ("Still waiting after 30 years for a census that includes me", Online, April 20th). The census is not some sort of love-bomb intended to fill us all with warm fuzzy feelings. The purpose is to gather information, at a significant cost, about the current population and how its members relate to the State.
In the recent marriage referendum, it was repeatedly stated (correctly, in my opinion) that the nature of private relationships, sexual or otherwise, entered into by citizens is no business of the State’s. Marriage, on the other hand, is a legal contract entered into voluntarily by citizens. There is an argument that the State can and should collect information on the number of people currently living under these legal contracts, and the number of these contracts that have come to a completion through divorce, separation or death. Should a citizen object to the provision of this information to the State, they are free to remain unmarried. However, there is no argument for the State demanding information from its citizens on their private personal relationships.– Is mise,
MUIREANN LYNCH,
Sandymount,
Dublin 4.