Received today. Name and address withheld. This is what we are up against.......

Dear Mr Ó Ríordáin,


Having heard your interview on RTE's "Drivetime" on Friday, I felt that I must comment on some of the issues that you raised. Although I do not live in your constituency as a public representative it is important that you are fully aware of public opinion.

The first issue is that of prayers in the Dail, I thought that you would have realised that you do not have to take part if you do not wish to - but that you would have enough respect for others who have different beliefs and traditions to allow them to do so.

The more important issue is that of child protection, in advocating gay male teachers in a week when male homosexuals are in the news for child abuse, surely you must be aware of the risks associated with male gays. As a family man I do not want my grandson given "guidance" by someone who feels that a homosexual relationship is normal, and who may be lovingly sodomising his partner, albeit in the privacy of their own home.

Inevitably and possibly unintentionally, views, standards and norms are passed from teacher to pupil. Our children are too important and vulnerable to be exposed to unnecessary risk, mental or physical, from someone who has such ambiguity with their sexuality.