Firstly may I say I support the idea that Cork City should be extended into a large metropolitan area encompass-ing Douglas, Ballincollig, Little Island, Cork Airport, Blarney, and Carrigtwohill. Moreover, I would go further and also include Ringaskiddy, Currabinny, Carrigaline and possibly even Cobh in this new Metro area.

The ongoing dialogue between Minister for Disability Issues, Finian McGrath, and Ina O’Dwyer (whose son has a disability) regarding residential care of intellectually impaired family members is important. I feel there is misunderstanding all round.

There can be some confusion about the meaning of the words ‘sex’ and ‘gender identity’ in the debate about gender recognition. 

The Irish passport is rather wonderful — a montage of graphics, images, music and writing, communicating our Celtic past and present. It’s ideal if you’re stuck on a plane, with no reading material other than the mildly depressing sky-shopping and sky-café brochures.

When the recession hit, as a public health service worker approximately 20% of my income was taken overnight.

Few things are more heartbreaking than hearing of the suicide of a young person, as I did today.

The hullabaloo about the gender pay gap in RTÉ follows the publication of comparable data by BBC. The 56th annual report discloses cash-strapped RTÉ reported a deficit in 2016 of €19.7m from total revenue of €337.3m on top of a pre-existing cumulative deficit of €15.1m.

The Irish Heart Foundation tells us that 10,000 people die each year from cardiovascular disease — mainly stroke and heart attacks — caused by a build-up of fatty deposits in our arteries. They tell those of us already diagnosed with the disease that standard treatment is an effective way of preventing a heart attack or stroke.

Those who advocate for the retention of the Eighth Amendment assert that it has deterred women from accessing abortion ‘Irish law keeps rate of abortion low’ (Irish Examiner, Letters, July 14).

Áras an Uachtaráin hosts garden tea parties at this time of year, and one was held on 20 June. It welcomed 20 representatives from each of 24 of Ireland’s islands.