Sir, - The Government's decision to renege on its pre-election promise to introduce mandatory reporting for child abuse marks a new low in political cynicism. We now see that even pledges made in the interests of protecting children, the most powerless and innocent in our society, are not beyond manipulation. If the Government does not consider mandatory reporting to be a good idea, why was it promised in the first place? The obvious answer seems to be "for political gain" - further proof, if it was needed, that in the cynical playing-field of Irish politics, goalposts are conveniently moved to suit the custodian's interests.
So whose interests do Mr Fahy and his colleagues in the Government have at heart? Certain professional classes who consider their aloof positions of power and control to be sacrosanct, or the children of the nation - those vote-less victims of the evil of child abuse that continues to run rampant and unreported in our society? - Yours, etc.,
Christy Parker,
North Main Street, Youghal, Co Cork.