Sir, - Amid the wide range of activities relating to the future of abortion - referendums, legislation, protests, marches, mudslinging, correspondence etc. - one very important point does not appear to have been taken into account. This is that the efforts of all those concerned are an utter waste of time, as they will achieve absolutely nothing.If the sincere aims of all such activists were totally fulfilled, they would not reduce by one the 5,000 abortions carried out on Irish women outside the State each year.A little realism on this subject would avoid the utterly useless waste of time, money and emotional involvement which could well be profitably expended in more useful directions. - Yours, etc.,F. Somerville Roberts,Ashford,Delgany,Co Wicklow.