State priority must be to guide our youth

IT is consoling to note the Taoiseach has shown awareness of the necessity for constitutional change or amendment to protect the rights of young people; even, if necessary, giving a referendum political priority.

In doing so, it is important to bear in mind that parents’ rights towards their children should be protected, too.

A recent proposal in Government circles, to keep the age of sexual consent at 17 for boys and girls, seemed a sensible one.

It is very difficult to understand, then, why it is quoted in the media as being at odds with public opinion, which would like it lowered to 16, in the face of social reality.

Much more socially realistic would be to face true facts and practicality — the obvious possibility of a baby being born to a schoolgoer, not yet having achieved the maturity nor capability of supporting and nurturing another.

How a recent nationwide poll found that 65% of the public want the age of consent lowered to 16 is just unbelievable.

Even allowing for the more liberal regime in which we now live, I could not imagine this figure as being representative of the views of the majority of Irish parents.

The fact that Tánaiste and Justice Minister Michael McDowell, together with “other Government voices” and the Labour Party, favoured lowering the age of consent to 16, is a further disgrace.

The minister suggests he would like to replicate the situation which exists in Britain and have a common age of consent of 16 for boys and girls; which would also give consent for homosexual acts at that age. I wonder whether he has analysed British statistics resultant to that decision, rather than blindly following it?

Mr McDowell even goes so far as to advocate sanctioning “peer sex”, so as not to criminalise a teenager having sex with another teenager that is within two years of their own age. No mention is ever made of the people themselves acting responsibly and showing respect towards another human being.

Thankfully, the Oireachtas Committee (based on public submissions), the Rape Crisis Centre and the ERSI study poll of 7,000 people favoured the status quo: agreeing the age of consent remaining at 17 as best.

In a country that has not yet implemented a satisfactory sex education programme in our schools, it’s time for the ‘top people’ to speak out on the responsibilities and the rights of parents, teachers and children in dealing with the protection of our youth.

The truth will always be controversial in an age of brainwashing, hypocrisy and lies.

James A Gleeson

The Grove

Thurles

Co Tipperary