Abortion, aul’ fellas and democracy

Sir,- If Sinn Féin’s Bill to abolish the three-day wait for abortion succeeds, it will represent a break from the 2018 settlement. Should the Oireachtas embrace a more active role in shaping abortion policy, what democratic argument could be made against future conservative governments trying to restrict access? – Yours, etc,

LUCAS DOWLING,

Rathdrum,

Co Wicklow.

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Sir,- Why is the three- day waiting period for an abortion described as “rather condescending reflection time” (Miriam Lord, June 18th) whereas the 14-day cooling-off period when buying financial products is regarded as a sensible and valuable measure? – Yours, etc,

EITHNE O’CALLAGHAN,

Ballsbridge,

Dublin 4.

Sir, – Miriam Lord hits the nail on the head as usual (“Aul’ fellas think they know crisis pregnancy best,” June 18th).

In the company of some of the most dedicated people in Ireland, I knocked on doors up, down and across Leitrim in 2018, canvassing support for a change to our Constitution so that my daughter would have reproductive rights I never had, having been in my early 20s at the time the Eighth Amendment was passed in 1983.

There’s one thing those aul’ fellas should know now: we aul’ ones have had quite enough of their opinions on our bodies, our lives and our rights.

Butt out, lads. – Yours, etc,

BERNIE LINNANE

Dromahair,

Co Leitrim.

Sir, – All of us older males owe a huge debt of gratitude to Miriam Lord for femsplaining the recent Dáil abortion vote to us.

Very stupidly, it appears, I had thought that in 2018, Repeal advocates like Micheál Martin and Simon Harris assured the nation that the statutory regime we were voting for included a three-day waiting period.

I was concerned that a brazen U-turn on this now without consulting the people might be an affront to democracy. Worse still, politicians like the Taoiseach and Tánaiste might be accused of dishonesty and misleading the public, heaven forfend.

How relieved I was to discover it had all been a foolish misunderstanding on my part and that, in fact, I have no right whatsoever to even have an opinion on the matter, due to the unfortunate combination of my age (auld) and gender (fella).

I’ll know in future not to let a peep out of me, because that’s how democracy works. Apparently. – Yours, etc,

DAVID CARROLL,

Dublin 2