In response to Brian McDevitt (“Return to the Wonderful and Magical World of Cinema, August 3), the only problem with returning to the big screen is the presence of the small screen. People will insist on using their phones so that the movie is interrupted by annoying ringing tones and specks of light.

would not go to any cinema allowing the use of cell phones. If the call is so important, people should stay home. Or put the phone in silent mode and go out.

A Dublin cinema blocked the signal in 2003 but had to remove the blocking device as it is unfortunately illegal to block access to emergency services.

John Williams, Clonmel, County Tipperary

Special measures are needed to finally fight against our cronyism

the Katherine Zappone’s decision not to accept the role of UN special envoy is to be welcomed, but can by no means be considered the end of the matter.

As a society, we must once and for all tackle and end the patronage and cronyism that run deep in our political system and plague our political system. We need to be told how this position materialized and who approached who. We need a full explanation of the “party” in Merrion – for whom and what its purpose was.

This is not the first time that such a controversy around political patronage has emerged and then allowed to fade away..

What the Taoiseach and the top ministers seem to fail to understand is the vital importance of maintaining public confidence in our democratic institutions and the damage caused by these shenanigans.

This episode should be fully reconsidered in the context of passing the necessary legislation to ensure that all patronage and cronyism are considered illegal, with appropriate penalties.

Jim O’Sullivan, Rathedmond, County Sligo

Archbishop shows courage to denounce political hypocrisy

Congratulations to Bishop Dermot Farrell for having courageously led his flock in matters of communions and confirmations.

As he was right in his interview on RTÉ Radio One to refer to this: “It’s good to have a party at the Merrion Hotel with 50 people present. However, it is not possible for a parent to take their child to receive the sacrament.

Churches have shown themselves to be highly responsible in adhering to all public health guidelines.

Some politicians may see the church as an easy target, but they must remember that the church is still the main focus of the spiritual life of many, many people. The injunction “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and what is God ‘s” comes to mind.

John Glennon, Hollywood, County Wicklow

Ireland’s churches are super safe, not super spreader

Mr. S. Kearon’s reference to “indoctrination rituals” (Letters, August 3) suggests that he was not a fan of religious ceremonies even before the current pandemic.

Alarmed by his claim that “there is an abundance of evidence” of such rituals turning into super-propagative events, I did a Google Scholar search and found no such abundance.

Yes, there have been misguided and irresponsible mass gatherings of hundreds or thousands of people of various religious affiliations around the world, which have led to the spread of the infection.

Yes, last year in Ireland some wedding revivals and funerals led to the spread of Covid-19 and such events have unfortunately had to be strictly regulated since then.

However, I find no reference to communion or confirmation ceremonies conducted under pandemic restrictions later revealing to be “super-spread events.”

To attend church in Northern Ireland, I wear a mask, I disinfect my hands when entering and exiting the building, I follow the stewards’ instructions, I sit two meters away from anyone outside of my home and I have no physical contact with anyone except when the communion host is placed in my hand.

Church attendance was down before the pandemic, but a cap of around 20% of full capacity is being met. This year’s communion service was held on two dates and the confirmation ceremony on three, to minimize risk.

I am not aware that the Roman Catholic bishops are threatening to excommunicate anyone who does not participate in the project ceremonies.

So I would trust the parents to consider the arrangements and decide what is in the best interests of their children. Mr. Kearon and those who share his point of view may choose to avoid such events if they wish.

Mícheál D Gallagher, Belfast, County Antrim