Sir, – Prof Fiona de Londras (October 9th) criticises my letter (October 6th) for “factual inaccuracies”, etc. Perhaps she fails to understand that letters to newspapers represent the opinions of the writer rather than those of the editor? The campaign to grant same-sex couples marital status is a moot point which is being pushed by a liberal elite far removed from the everyday concerns of ordinary people. As a gay man in Ireland I experienced plenty of prejudice and had to move to the UK to live and work in the 1970s. The position of gay people has advanced greatly since then and Ireland is a much better place for gay men and women – for most people really. One has to be careful when pushing boundaries and I consider, at this point in time, that the issue of same-sex marriage is one which should be quietly dropped. – Yours, etc,
A chara, – Prof Fiona de Londras (October 9th) has informed the debate on the difference between civil partnership and marriage within Irish law. This is to be welcomed.
However, she is surely guilty of transgressing her boundary of expertise by asserting that there is “no objectively justifiable basis for differentiating between same and opposite sex couples”. Many reasoned people would argue that this point is far from settled. – Is mise,
Sir, – I’m all in favour of marriage for same-sex couples. Why should only heterosexuals be miserable? – Yours, etc,