"I do hope you weren't thinking I was classing Ireland as a Third World country Jim. "
No I wasn't Sen (but according to Stephen Fry' definition (Q.U.), technically it is
In many ways, Ireland shares many of the problems of Third World Countries as, for centuries, it has been restricted from developing its own culture due to outside influences and the role played by the church in being allowed to make the rules on basic issues (childbirth being only one) has actually acted as a brake on tackling problems in a rational, rather than a doctrinal enforced way.
Cross religion marriage, homosexuality and the position of women in society are three issues that are gradually being tackled - women's control over her body has yet to leave the stable, let alone the starting box.
I don't know the position in your husband's part of the work, but I do know I'd love to sit down with the pair of you over a pint if we ever made it back to Norfolk
Jim