Sir, - The Irish Times must be congratulated for the decision to give two pages to the submissions made to the Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution by Church and Community leaders.
The coverage given by RTE News was, bluntly, a disgrace. We had wordless pictures of religious leaders. The Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin, Most Rev Laurence Ryan, was allowed a few audible remarks. The Muslim delegation was seen arriving. The Jewish Community was ignored. Abortion is a subject that heightens emotion and can cause a rush of blood to the head. There is no fear on those scores as abortion is presented by RTE News. There are exceedingly difficult decisions ahead on this subject. RTE is supposed to be a public information service. This duty was seriously evaded when vital facts were being laid before the Oireachtas Committee.
One must ask was the almost blanking out of the religious leaders an ideological decision by RTE or was it obeying political instructions?
The FF-PD administration must make critical decisions. Will it have a referendum on abortion as demanded by some, or, will this Coalition funk it? The voter requires information on the issue. He and she will not get it from RTE. It is as well that The Irish Times knows where its duty lies. - Yours, etc.,
Brian Quinn, Kincora Grove, Dublin 3.