Sir, – Well done to your columnists Róisín Ingle (September 12th), Una Mullally and Tara Flynn (September 14th). Their articles are further steps on the road to making this country a more honest, compassionate and safer place for women to live. I am not an advocate for abortion but from the depths of my being I am for a woman's right to choose what is right for her. – Yours, etc,
JOAN WALSH,
Cahir,
Co Tipperary.
Sir, – If The Irish Times was going to host a "Repeal the Eighth Amendment Week", you should really have announced it beforehand. – Yours, etc,
PATRICK DALY,
Tralee,
Co Kerry.
Sir, – I believe that Maria Mhic Mheanmain (September 16th) is correct when she says that people are deeply uncomfortable with abortion (and they are not just in Ireland). I know I am. But I also accept that there are cases where it can be warranted.
Those who would ban abortion in all cases, under any and all circumstances, are polarising the debate.
Many of the people who deny that there are any occasions when an abortion might take place have the existence of the immortal soul as their basis for so doing.
This is their right under freedom of religion but they have no right to use something that is an impossible concept for so many to accept in order to have the ensuing beliefs written into the law of the land, and to create a situation where there is no room for those who would argue for a responsible but highly restrictive abortion regime in this country. – Yours, etc,
SEAMUS McKENNA,
Windy Arbour,
Dublin 14.
Sir, – No woman of childbearing age has had the opportunity to vote on the availability of safe and legal abortion in Ireland. Why are so many people afraid of affording them their democratic rights? – Yours, etc,
BRIAN LEONARD,
Basse,
Normandy.