Sir, – I read with some irritation comments expressed by Bernie Cronin (Letters, September 5th) in response to Peadar Tóibín, (“Should new citizens have to pass a language test?,” Opinion, September 1st).

I hold no strong views on this particular subject though I recognise the practical benefits of the acquisition of the English language regarding integration and the accessing if services.

However, the claim in the letter that the referendum of 2004, which culminated in the 27th Amendment to the Constitution limiting citizenship of those born in Ireland to children with at least one Irish parent, demonstrated the value the electorate placed on citizenship cannot be left unchallenged.

Less than 60 per cent of those eligible to vote did so and many of those who did, did so on the back of a despicable campaign based on fear of a fictitious tidal wave of heavily pregnant women arriving in Ireland in order to grant their entire extended families permanent residency here, and subsequently the right to travel to any country in the EU.

It sickened me then, and today it still sits uneasily with me, that not all of the teenage boys sitting in front of me in the classroom – nearly all born in Ireland to parents legally resident here – are equal in the eyes of our laws, regardless of how well they speak Irish, or play hurling or Gaelic, or do in their Leaving Certificate exams.

All equal but some more equal than others?

Yours,

SARAH NESTOR,

Dundalk.

Sir, – Not content with insisting that prospective Irish citizens should be able to demonstrate proficiency in English, Peadar Tóibín of Aontú has now told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland that applicants for citizenship should be able to display a rudimentary knowledge of the Irish language.

Having been born in England, neither I, nor my husband and brothers, ever learned Irish. Should we be preparing for deportation?

On a more serious note, this seems to augur very poorly for any hopes of uniting the various traditions on this island, which Aontú would no doubt claim as an aspiration.

Populism is such a blunt instrument. – Yours, etc,

BERNIE LINNANE,

Dromahair,

Co Leitrim.