Sir, - Kevin Myers was correct when he highlighted the UN's downgrading of Irish mothers and motherhood (May 25th). The UN took the Irish Government to task for allowing the persistence of our emphasis on the role of women as mothers to be an "impediment" (the UN's word!) to the progress of women (cf UN CEDAW report on Ireland, June 1999).
How alarming! Perhaps more alarming, however, is the complete absence of any Government comment or even acknowledgment of such an outrageous statement levelled by an international body at a sovereign people. We hope that the attention given to the issue by Kevin Myers will ensure a strong public rebuttal by the Government to the UN. Hopefully, too, bodies such as the National Women's Council of Ireland will take note and will rebuke the UN for the slight on so many Irish women, their husbands and children. - Yours, etc.,
B. and C. Lynch, Wyattville Park, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin.