Online pornography - A technical response will not suffice

It is entirely appropriate that Communications Minister Pat Rabbitte should consider whatever conclusions David Cameron, the British prime minister, reaches in his efforts to control online pornography and the impact it has on society, especially immature young people.

Mr Cameron hopes that internet service providers will automatically block access to pornography unless a customer decides to override a built-in filter.

Unfortunately it is equally appropriate and realistic to refer to bolting horses, stable doors, brave Dutch boys with their thumb in a collapsing dyke, or a long-forgotten king ordering the rising tide to desist.