Sir, – Fintan O’Toole’s deconstruction of Article 41 of the Constitution was masterful. However, he missed one remarkable feature.
The original Article 41 had no reference whatsoever to children.
The only reference to children in Article 41 was introduced by way of the Divorce Referendum in 1995, whereby children were guaranteed “such provision as the Court considers proper having regard to the circumstances”.
Funny, isn’t it, how a proper regard for the rights of children was introduced into the Constitution by those nasty “anti-family” liberals. – Yours, etc, MICHAEL STUART Malahide, Co Dublin.
Sir, – Apropos Fintan O'Toole's "Want to be pro-family? Then get rid of Article 41", he quotes Article 41.2.2 of our Constitution: "The State shall, therefore, endeavour to ensure that mothers shall not be obliged by economic necessity to engage in labour to the neglect of their duties in the home".
Is it not astonishing that no case has been taken by mna na hÉireann that their constitutional right to stay at home has been grossly infringed?
The Constitutional Review Group highlighted this laughable anomaly as something worthy of amendment? The mind boggles at the potential financial cost to the State if it were to uphold its own Constitution. – Yours, etc, NIALL PELLY Foxrock, Dublin 18