Better late than never tackling anti-social ways

IRELAND is finally turning into a civilised country: not only will you soon be able to go to a pub without being forced to breathe lethal smoke, but parents will also finally be legally responsible for the education they give to their children.

And if you are not responsible enough to be a parent, you pay the consequences of your own decisions.

Somebody has finally understood that kids are the country's future and if you take a look at our streets, there is not much of a future.

Kids under 16 are left alone in the streets until late, they damage both public and private property, they litter and are often aggressive. And if you address the parents about their responsibilities, they look at you as if you just landed from another planet.

It did not take much to see where the problems lie and Willie O'Dea has finally got the point.

He might now want to have a chat with the Minister for Education to review civics school programmes. It was at school I learnt not to litter, to respect other people's freedom, recycle waste, save energy, cross the road correctly, and being a good citizen but that was in a primary school outside of Ireland.

Sabrina Straventa,

36, Ardcarrig,

Carrigaline,

Co Cork.