Letters: Ireland and the US worked together for peace in the past and can do so again
Many of us have strong American links. US citizens with Irish ancestry can grasp Ireland's empathy for victims of famine and forced depopulation.
Other Americans may not have such insights and might need inspiration from wise and erudite US politicians. Unfortunately, such guidance was often lacking in recent tragedies in Palestine and Israel.
By contrast, from 1970 onwards, Democratic and Republican politicians tried to help Ireland during the Troubles.
They sought the advice of Irish politicians, including John Hume. These exchanges hastened peace and brought enormous benefits for the island of Ireland. It is beyond time to revive the Ireland-US diplomatic and political exchanges of the John Hume era.
Not all Gaza peace negotiations need to be held in Qatar. With Ireland's history, perhaps sharing the nuances of the OTB, Ireland could help bring a lasting accord. It could reciprocate the vital US input of 1998.
Philip Powell, Co Dublin
Israeli use of antisemitism defence rings hollow as abhorrent war continues
The abhorrent and continuing inhumanity to the people of Gaza cannot be described as anything other than genocide.
At the time, there was little awareness of the Holocaust, but today, there are ceaseless daily media reports of the killing of innocent people – God's children – by the Israel Defence Forces.
Israel, alleging it is the sole democracy in the Middle East, claims criticism of the carnage is antisemitic. The Oxford English Dictionary defines 'semitic' as 'relating to or denoting a family of languages that includes Hebrew, Arabic and Aramaic and certain ancient languages such as Phoenician and Akkadian, constituting the main subgroup of the Afro-Asiatic family'.
Therefore, Israel has no moral claim to the term 'antisemitic'. This is nothing other than an inhumane, immoral attempt to press naive parliamentarians into doing the bidding of those who desire to depopulate Gaza, allowing settlers to take it over.
I can only conclude the perpetrators of this genocide do not trust God, as they delude themselves on the seriousness of what believing in God incurs personally.
Declan Foley, Melbourne, Australia
We put ourselves at risk of economic shock in cosying up to the once-friendly US
Ireland can't afford to dismiss Donald Trump's 30pc tariff threat.
I think from an Irish perspective it could be argued by some commentators that this really illuminates how foolish we were in making ourselves a US vassal state and becoming so economically dependent on the whims of one country.
It's all fine and dandy when there's a US president who is affectionate towards Ireland.
However, when there isn't that same affinity and closeness, and when we are just being treated like any other nation, especially when it comes to US interests, we are vulnerable to shocks, particularly when it comes to pharmaceuticals.
Many would suggest that if we were a US vassal state, it has transformed this country.
If one were to look at our nearest neighbour, Britain, and compare the standard of living, it could be argued that we are in a different league to the UK and most European countries.
However, most young people in Ireland are living with their parents. For many of our citizens, there is a palpable cost-of-living crisis, and it could also be argued that this thriving economy of ours doesn't always translate to a real quality of living.
John O'Brien, Clonmel, Co Tipperary
Cork hurlers did so well this year, I hope they won't be too hard on themselves
While I fully understand why Cork's management and players did not want a big homecoming reception, I would also say to them that they have done Cork proud in 2025 by winning the National League and the Munster Championship – no small achievement.
Disappointment I can understand, but they did bring a lot of happiness to Cork fans this year, so they should not be too hard on themselves.
But of course, full congratulations are due to Liam Cahill and the Tipp boys.
Donough O Reilly, Stillorgan, Dublin
Cork may have been the experts' choice, but their predictions fell flat on day
In the Irish Independent sports section last Saturday ('All-Ireland final jury',) a so-called panel of experts, namely Colm Keys, Michael Verney, John Mullane, Frank Roche, Dermot Crowe, Conor McKeon and Eddie Brennan, all predicted at least a four-point win for Cork in the All-Ireland hurling final. The defence rests.
Brendan Daly, Clonmel, Co Tipperary
Good to see budget move from cost-of-living action to more capital spending
The Summer Economic Statement details what levels of funding will be available for Budget 2026.
It is good to see that there will be a move away from the so-called once-off cost-of-living measures towards more capital spending and investment in healthcare, education and social protection.
There is going to be investment in infrastructure, and this is good for the future.
There is an uncertainty out there and the Government needs to be careful. Each department needs to have a plan, and they all need to be cautious going forward.
At least this year's budget will not fall in an election year. There will not be the same lobbying by interest groups.
However, there will be a presidential election in November, which will be more of a personality contest than a political one.
The economic state of the country should be the most important priority at the moment.
We are about to enter choppy waters thanks to Donald Trump. However, we are fortunate that our economic state is in the safe hands of Paschal Donohoe.
He and Jack Chambers are a formidable partnership.
Thomas Garvey, Claremorris Mayo
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Irish Times
24 minutes ago
- Irish Times
Legal bid to compel Government to suspend military-related trade with Israel filed in High Court
A legal bid to compel the Irish Government to suspend military-related trade with Israel and stop flights transporting weapons to the Israeli army through Irish airspace has been filed with the High Court . Supporters of the action waved Palestinian flags and shouted 'No jets for genocide' outside the Four Courts in Dublin as the judicial review proceedings were filed on Tuesday. The action is by: Cork-based community campaign group Uplift; three journalists with news outlet The Ditch –Roman Shortall, Eoghan McNeill and Paul Doyle;and Dr Ahmed El Mokhallalati, an Irish-born surgeon who worked in Gaza hospitals. As an Irish-Palestinian surgeon, Dr El Mokhallalati said he is 'outraged that Ireland allows arms trade with Israel and allows military jets pass through Irish airspace, jets that bombed my own family in Gaza, where my Irish children were pulled from under the rubble'. READ MORE 'I was arrested and interrogated while treating patients in Gaza,' he said. 'I believe it is both a moral and legal imperative for the Irish Government to uphold international law and end complicity with genocide.' Represented by Phoenix Law, the applicants claim the Government is in breach of national and EU laws by allegedly facilitating military and dual-use trade with Israel. They claim the Government is allowing flights carrying explosives, guns and ammunition to Israel to pass through Irish airspace. They also claim Government is unlawfully continuing to grant permits for military-related goods, including components for F-35 jets, to be exported to Israel. The proceedings are against the Ministers for Transport and for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the Government of Ireland, Ireland and the Attorney General. Before judicial review proceedings can be taken, the High Court has to grant leave which involves deciding whether or not the applicants have an arguable case. Speaking outside the Four Courts, Mr Shortall and Brian Cuthbert of Uplift said they hope the court will treat the case as urgent and hear the leave application sometime later this week, before the law term ends on Thursday. Irish-Palestinian surgeon Dr Ahmed El Mokhallalati The Government has called what is happening in Gaza a genocide 'but at the same time continue to allow weapons to be sent to Israel', Mr Cuthbert said. 'People across Ireland refuse to stand by any longer and allow this travesty to continue and we have been left with no choice but to use the courts to force the Irish Government to stop sending weapons to the Israel Defense Forces.' In a statement grounding the action, the applicants referred to research and reports published by The Ditch. It is claimed the material showed flights were and are transporting munitions and other weapons of war to Israel through Irish airspace. Other claims include that goods from Ireland are being exported to Israel for use by two Israeli arms companies for manufacture of weapons and military equipment. The applicants say the Government's position in relation to the use of Irish airspace is 'unclear and contradictory'. They say the Government maintains Irish airspace has not been used to transport weapons of war while also saying they do not know how Irish airspace is being utilised. It is argued the applicants have 'clear evidence' thatIrish airspace has been used to carry munitions and weapons of war being used against the people of Palestine. In an affidavit, Dr El Mokhallalati, who worked in hospitals in Gaza in 2023 and 2024, including as head of the burns unit in Al Shifa hospital, said he has lost dozens of family members who were killed in Israeli military strikes. [ TD Gary Gannon files legal proceedings against Central Bank over Israeli bonds Opens in new window ] 'I am haunted by the number of people injured and killed, the children that I treated and the huge numbers of children who died or had their limbs amputated, he said. 'I continue to lose those I love every day, including medical staff and relatives, and I live in fear at what may happen to those who have not perished, with the ever-high risk that my uncles, aunts, cousins and grandparents may be lost in this genocide.' From media coverage and articles, he believes Ireland has been facilitating the transfer of weapons and munitions of war to be used against the people in Gaza, he said. While appreciative of the solidarity which the people of Ireland, and the Government, have shown to Gaza, he was 'disappointed to see that the Irish Government continues to ignore the abuse of its airspace in this manner' and, in this way, is 'facilitating the most egregious crimes against humanity'.
RTÉ News
an hour ago
- RTÉ News
High Court action over use of Irish airspace for weapons transport
A legal challenge to the use of Irish airspace for flights transporting weapons to Israel has been lodged at the High Court. Campaign group Uplift, along with news organisation The Ditch and Irish-born Palestinian surgeon, Dr Ahmed El Mokhallalati have lodged papers seeking permission to apply for judicial review. In the statement filed to ground the application, they say they are seeking declarations that the Minister for Transport has failed to investigate allegations that Irish airspace has been used for the transport of weapons for use by the Israeli Defence Force in its military operations in Gaza and that part of the relevant legislation is unconstitutional. They also claim the Irish Government is in breach of export legislation in the manner in which "dual use export licences" are being granted for goods which they say are used to manufacture weapons. Uplift says it published a report in May last year outlining its view that a surge in "dual use" trade between Ireland and Israel, since Israel commenced military action against Gaza may be linked to goods being used in the production of military equipment. They say there is a high risk that goods from Ireland are being exported to be used by two Israeli companies involved in manufacturing weapons and military equipment. The Government has said the level of dual use exports is not related to the ongoing military attack on Gaza. The Ditch has published research on tracking flights which appeared to be transporting weapons to Israel through Irish airspace. They say there's clear evidence that this is being done. They say in their statement of grounds, that it is legally impermissible to do this, that it's facilitating genocide being carried out by the IDF against the Palestinian people and that no exemptions were sought for the transportation of these weapons. They claim the Minister for Transport has failed in his duties under Air navigation and transport legislation to investigate the allegations about the use of Irish airspace. They also say the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment has been unlawfully granting dual use export licences. Surgeon Ahmed El Mokhallalati, who was born in Dublin, outlined his experiences in Gaza and described how he had contacted the Uplift organisation with a wish to do something about the ongoing death and destruction there. He said he believed Ireland had been facilitating the transfer of weapons and munitions of war to be used against the people in Gaza and he said these were the same weapons which destroyed his home, killed his friends and families and caused horrific and unspeakable harm to the people whose lives he worked hard to try to save. He said he was disappointed to see that the Government was continuing to ignore the abuse of its airspace in this manner and he said he felt compelled to take some action. He said he believed the Government was turning a blind eye to the use of Irish airspace to transport weapons and facilitating the most egregious crimes against humanity. Uplift say they are hoping to get a hearing at the High Court to seek leave to bring the judicial review proceedings before the end of this week.
Irish Independent
an hour ago
- Irish Independent
Pope poses for selfies at Catholic influencer festival
He urged them to ensure that human relations do not suffer with the spread of digital ecosystems and artificial intelligence. History's first American pope was mobbed by hundreds of influencers, their mobile phones hoisted high to stream the encounter, when he arrived at St Peter's Basilica after a special mass. The pilgrims have descended on Rome for a special Holy Year celebration of so-called "digital missionaries", part of the Vatican's week-long jubilee for young people that culminates this weekend with a vigil and mass in a vast field on Rome's outskirts. Leo thanked the young people for using their digital platforms to spread the faith, and he gamely posed for selfies. But he warned them about neglecting human relationships in their pursuit of clicks and followers, and cautioned them to not fall prey to fake news and the "frivolity" of online encounters. "It is not simply a matter of generating content, but of creating an encounter between hearts," Leo said in a speech that showed his ease switching from Italian to Spanish to English. "Be agents of communion, capable of breaking down the logic of division and polarisation, of individualism and egocentrism." He added: "It is up to us - to each one of you - to ensure that this culture remains human. Our mission - your mission - is to nurture a culture of Christian humanism, and to do so together" in what he called the only networks that really matter: of friendship, love and the "network of God". For the past two days, the Vatican's message to the young influencers has been one of thanks for their social media evangelising, but also a warning to not allow their posting to go off-message or to neglect the human dimension of all encounters. For Leo, the issue is particularly heartfelt since he has said that addressing the threat to humanity posed by AI will be a priority of his pontificate. Tuesday began with groups of influencers and young pilgrims passing through the basilica's Holy Door, a rite of passage for the estimated 32 million people participating in the Vatican's 2025 Holy Year celebrations. This week, downtown Rome swarmed with energetic masses of teenage Catholic scouts, church and Catholic school groups.
