Sir, – Hats off to the Irish Dancing Commission for making a move to ban wigs, false tans, make-up and false eyelashes for children under 10 ("Minister says child beauty pageants steal childhood", Oireachtas Report, March 6th). Also, tiaras off to the Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald and Independent Senators Jillian van Turnhout and Mary Louise O'Donnell for taking a strong stand against child beauty pageants in Ireland. The child beauty pageants we see televised today are part of a multimillion dollar industry and are a long way from the "dressing up" games that we played as little girls. Our society is rife with competition, pressure and stress as it is.
Childhood is short, so please let children be children. – Yours, etc,
JAKKI MOORE,
Akershus,
Son,
Norway.