Madam, - I refer to Breda O'Brien's column of May 15th on the subject of Government policy on the family.
I commend her for addressing one of the new sacred cows of modern Ireland, the "right" of anyone to bring children into the world. Already, over one third of children being born in this country are being born to non-married mothers, and this rate appears to be inevitably headed towards 50 per cent. Yet there is almost no debate on the social, political and economic consequences.
A disproportionate number of these children are destined for lives of poverty, early school-leaving, early parenting and long-term welfare dependency. Many will also fall prey to drugs, or drift into crime, or worse.
Meanwhile, we have a new phenomenon happening in the so-called "better-off" parts of Dublin: the childless estates. People who work full-time and pay exorbitant prices for a house can no longer afford to bring children into the world. Where I live there are almost 100 houses, and I can see only two families currently raising young children.
I also know of couples who are travelling vast distances around the world to adopt children, while almost daily I hear of children suffering the most appalling neglect or abuse.
It seems to me that in modern Ireland it is far easier to get away with neglecting or abusing children than to do the same to a pet animal.
It is imperative that Ireland, like all Western countries, begins seriously to address this issue, and come up with a meaningful "family policy". A considered, rational debate is urgently needed. But I'm not holding my breath. - Yours, etc.,
GERARD KELLY, Orwell Gardens, Rathgar, Dublin 6.