Let’s fix this contradiction in our Constitution

The referendum to lower the presidential age might focus minds on a strange contradiction in our Constitution.

We have Article 40 which guarantees no one will suffer discrimination on the grounds of religion. We also have the requirement, now extended in the referendum to 21-year-olds, that a religious oath is required for office. These are clearly at odds with each other and the only explanation can be that at the time the Constitution was framed it was never envisaged that a non-religious person might fill any of these offices.

All it would take now would be a few words to allow the right to ‘truthfully affirm’ alongside the religious oath.

Dick Spicer

Sugarloaf Crescent

Bray, Co Wicklow.