A chara, – I was disappointed with your article regarding Scouting Ireland (Home News, May 26th). I am a scouter (initially in the Catholic Boy Scouts of Ireland (CBSI)) who since 1984 has pushed the gender agenda having started the first mixed venture scout group in Limerick, much to the ire of the local Girl Guide group, I might add. In the intervening years Scouting has shaken off the “Catholic” and “Boy” labels to the point where we have a 60/40 male/female split in youth membership and a 50/50 split in leadership. We are independent, non-political, open to all without distinction of origin, race, creed, gender, sexual orientation, or ability.
What you failed report is the fact that two separate Girl Guide organisations (Irish Girl Guides and the Catholic Girl Guides) continue to operate organisations that discriminate on the basis of gender and are State-funded despite the option to merge with the two scouting movements at the foundation of Scouting Ireland a number of years ago. Such joint scout/guide organisations exist in other civilised countries. – Is mise,