CONDOM MACHINES

Sir, I get the sneaking suspicion that Mr Sean Woods's letter (March 29th) regarding the installation of a condom vending machine…

Sir, I get the sneaking suspicion that Mr Sean Woods's letter (March 29th) regarding the installation of a condom vending machine in Connolly Railway Station was written more with a view to getting a reaction than making a point. So with the bait firmly between my teeth here goes.

Iarnrod Eireann's decision to allow the installation of a condom machine at their station shows a mature understanding of the reality of the situation. If there is a problem with condoms today it is that they are still largely unused when they should be, particularly by the young leading to the well documented high levels of unwanted pregnancies and of course contributing to the spread of HIV. Mr Woods suggests that freely available condoms encourages promiscuity this is like suggesting freely available syringes encourages drug abuse, i.e., wrong. The easier it is for people to get access to contraceptives the more they will be used and that, in the stark reality of today's world, is a good thing.

Finally, Mr Woods suggests that he would like to boycott Iarnrod Eireann due to their action on this matter but since they have a monopoly in the railways this presents a problem. May I suggest that since he already lives in the clouds that he flys. Yours, etc., St Fintans Park, Sutton, Dublin 13.