Madam, - I take offence at Donal O'Driscoll's claim that "cohabitation is not a substitute for commitment" (June 26th). I feel obliged to inform him that in many, if not most cases, cohabitation is commitment.
How dare he suggest that parents who are unmarried are not committed to supporting their children, or that unmarried couples are ambiguous about where their priorities lie? The only thing that unmarried couples are lacking is a piece of paper with their signatures on it. I would expect my life partner to believe in my commitment without the requirement of my signing a contract. Perhaps Mr O'Driscoll would like to consider the "unambiguous commitment" of the marriage ritual in the context of Hollywood for example, where marriages can last for as little as a couple of days.
Commitment in a relationship is not about signing a piece of paper; it is about staying together in difficult times as well as good, and working through life together. Any couple who succeed with this commitment are entitled to be considered as a partnership in the eyes of the law, whether or not they believe in the institution of marriage. - Yours, etc.,
K. MURPHY, Crossneen, Co Carlow.