Madam, - A vocal but misguided pro-condom lobby appears to be gathering momentum in Ireland these days.
In a letter in your edition of July 5th, Holly Fawcett wrote that the Government should promote "safe sex (using condoms)" to protect young people against sexually transmitted infections, adding that "teaching abstinence is not going to work in this day and age."
On your letters page of August 9th, Dr Peter Groarke "finds incomprehensible" the "social irresponsibility" of some major supermarkets in failing to stock condoms, a policy which "flies in the face of the State's efforts to curb the spread of STDs". At least two TDs (Fiona O'Malley and Barry Andrews) have publicly advocated the use of condoms by young people as a protection against STDs.
As you kindly published my comments on Ms Fawcett's proposal I would appreciate the opportunity to comment on the letter from Dr Groarke.
The current serious spread of STIs among young people in Ireland owes more to lack of restraint on the part of our "burgeoning youth - our greatest national resource" (Dr Groarke's words) than to the lack of availability of condoms. These are widely available.
This availability, with the promise of "safe sex", together with the advocacy of those mentioned above, is regarded by impressionable young people as an unconditional invitation by society to indulge in unrestrained sexual activity, frequently promiscuous. The tragic results are all too evident.
Confidence in the efficacy of condoms to protect against venereal infection is, I suggest, misplaced. No less an authority than the condom manufacturer Durex publishes the following unequivocal warning on its website:
"For complete protection from HIV and other STIs the only totally effective measure is sexual abstinence or limiting sexual intercourse to mutually faithful, uninfected partners." - Yours, etc.,
SHANE O'CONNOR, Green Road, Newbridge, Co Kildare.