Sir, – Louise Hannon (July 17th) is mistaken when she says that “in 10 years’ time people will be asking what all this fuss is about”. If Ireland’s record of legislating for morally sensitive issues is anything to go by, 10 years may prove woefully inadequate for a positive outcome.
At a conservative estimate, a decade may just allow enough time for a mud-slinging reverendum (sic) or two, numerous pious statements of intent by opposition parties which magically melt away the day they are elected to government, followed inevitably by law suits in Luxembourg and Strasbourg.
As a point of contrast, Spanish prime minister Zapatero promised to introduce gay marriage and did so with a one-line amendment to the civil code within a year of coming to office. Some Spaniards forecast the end of the world would follow. They were wrong. More said it would be unconstitutional. They also were proven wrong.
A similar option is available to Irish legislators, but there is a catch. TDs would first have to locate that most elusive feature of their anatomy: their moral backbone. Ms Hannon should steel herself against a long wait. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – I refer to Tom Gilsenan’s commendable letter (July 17th) introducing a little welcome levity.
May I remind your readers of the position adopted concerning gay marriage in 2005-06 by Richard “Kinky” Friedman, then candidate in the Texas gubernatorial election: “I support gay marriage. I believe they have a right to be as miserable as the rest of us.” – Yours, etc,
A chara, – Thomas Ryan (July 19th) tells us of the same sex “marriage” of two Roman emperors; could he tell us how many children resulted from these marriages? – Is mise,
Sir, – Maolsheachlann O Ceallaigh (July 20th) states that, after a visit to a museum in America, he has come to the following conclusion: “Marriage between one man and one woman has been the norm and ideal pretty much universally; and surely there is a reason for that.” .
I can only assume the reason he is thinking of is its cast iron, foolproof, 100 per cent success rate. – Yours, etc,