Letters to the Editor: The 'lived experience expertise' of survivors is invaluable

Irish Examiner

18 hours ago

As a survivor of Willow Park and four other boarding schools, I applaud the establishment of the commission of investigation into the handling of historical child sexual abuse in schools.
My gratitude to Mark and David Ryan is in equal measure to my deep respect for what they have achieved.
Over the past 30 years, numerous similar inquiries have been carried out. Academic, clinical, and legal expertise has been an important part of the development and progress of these inquiries.
What has had less space is 'lived experience expertise' — the expertise of survivors, the ones who lived through what was done to them by others.
In June 2025, researchers at Trinity College published a substantive report, Transforming Justice Responses to Non-recent Institutional Abuses, prepared by Anne-Marie McAlinden, Marie Keenan, and James Gallen.
Their report assessed past inquiries — in Ireland, the UK, and beyond — with this in mind.
Their research has shown clearly that the inclusion of lived experience expertise at all stages of such inquiries, as active agents, improves outcomes for everyone concerned.
Survivors were excluded from setting the terms of reference of the commission of investigation, in spite of our requests to be participants in that process.
Nothing about us, nothing without us.
I urge the Irish Government, and everyone in our elected assemblies, to take on board the wisdom and expertise of the academics, legal experts, and clinicians.
Survivors deserve nothing less.
Corneilius Crowley, Address with the editor
Happy campers
As a campervan owner, I have often used the facility at Cobh, I find it great. My partner and I have travelled all over Europe in the last 10 years or so and have a lot of experience of how good the facilities are on the continent.
Ireland is still lagging behind Europe in this area, county councils around Ireland are missing a great opportunity to raise revenue and encourage camper tourism.
Campsites in Ireland are too expensive, the owners won't let you service your van (empty grey/ black waste, refill fresh water) for a small fee (€5/€10) unless you want to stay overnight.
In lots of towns in Europe, they provide this facility free or for a €2/€5 charge. It's great to see that Cork County Council is thinking outside the box. Well done! We're looking forward to visiting new sites when they open.
Eddie Tierney, Rathgar, Dublin
Tourism no-brainer
Campervan parks are badly needed.
Youghal is a prime tourist destination, and campervans are the vehicle of choice for many tourists.
Similar seaside towns on the continent have them, and they are great assets to these places.
Campervanners are a community in their own right, they bring business to the town and are in nobody's way, provided they're given proper facilities.
It's an absolute no-brainer, in my opinion.
Utta Hogan, Youghal, Cork
Government all at sea over cables
It seems very deceitful of the Government to invite us to take part in a survey on maritime security to protect undersea cables, the property of private industries, from little or no threat, when, at the same time, it has failed to enact the long-promised and essential Marine Protected Areas Bill.
Surely, it would be easier, more urgent, and more appropriate to establish areas of marine protection for the health and biodiversity of our waters, within our own territory, than to spend our money trying to protect cables that run thousands of miles outside of our territory and area of responsibility.
This Government seems to have the will and the money for the protection of undersea cables, but not the will or the money to protect the very life of the seas around our island home.
Marian Naughton Naas, Co Kildare
Aiding corruption
Between €500m and €1bn has been spent by Ireland on development aid to Mozambique over the past 30 years — despite it being one of the most corrupt governments in Africa. Yet Irish media expends far more energy scrutinising the Dáil bicycle shed than this long-running misuse of taxpayer funds.
Mozambique became a priority for Irish Aid in 1996. Some of the funding may have achieved limited success in niche areas, but it has also propped up a rapacious elite.
Frelimo, the ruling party, has clung to power for nearly 50 years, overseeing increasingly fraudulent elections. In the most recent vote, more than 50 protesters were reportedly shot by police.
Irish Aid to Mozambique was over €40m annually until 2016, when a $2bn corruption scandal involving the Frelimo government — exposed largely by the US — came to light. Since then, the aid has been halved, but €20m a year still flows in.
I spent 14 years working in education in Mozambique and met many of the Irish embassy staff. Most were aware of the rampant corruption, but felt bound by the system: 'The money has been allocated — we have to spend it.'
They are career diplomats, not policymakers, and no doubt their private reports paint a clearer picture.
While Irish Aid's brochures highlight contributions to health, education, and governance, the reality is less reassuring. Transparency International reports increasing corruption. Mozambique's ranking on the UN Human Development Index is falling. Meanwhile, the ruling elite grows richer and ever more detached from the needs of ordinary citizens.
I'm not against development aid — far from it. But we owe it to taxpayers and to the poor themselves to be more discerning. Why is the Irish media silent on this long-running farce?
It's time we stop turning a blind eye and recognise our complicity in enabling corrupt regimes.
Donal Conlon, Paris, France
Our waters matter
It's disappointing to read that our Government has failed to legislate to exclude large trawlers from Irish coastal waters.
We live on a beautiful island, surrounded by rich, diverse, and abundant seas; at a minimum you would expect our politicians to do all in their power to protect what we have — not just for those of us alive now, but for future generations.
I don't really get a sense that our island and its environment matter a whole lot to TDs.
We are constantly being told how rich a country we are, we paint the world green every St Patrick's Day, there's no end to the 'hard sell' of our little nation.
So why not put our money where our mouth is, and endeavour to make our land, air, sea, and water 'best in class', a place that will nurture all of us now and for generations to come.
Anne Quinlan, Clondalkin, Dublin 22
Explaining sea snot
With the good weather on us, a lot of concern is being raised by the smothering of our coastal areas with what is called sea lettuce or sea snot. This is great, because it calls for an explanation.
Fifty years ago, the vast majority of our river tributaries and streams were fully open to the sunlight and hosted a vibrant growth of green ranunculus crowsfoot weed, on which the whole riparian ecosystem was based, be it fish or bird.
This weed would have sequestered any passing molecule or nitrogen or phosphorus, and all the fine silts and muds. These streams, of which nationally we have over 30,000km, are now just shaded out, eutrophied drains.
Nicholas Grubb, Dromana, Cappoquin
Nitrates indulgence
Drought conditions have been declared in 12 counties and 31 catchment areas, yet our Government — so happy to give lip service to environmental protection — is in negotiations with the EU to extend the nitrates derogation for dairy farms.
Should that wrong-headed objective be achieved, Ireland would be the only EU country where that indulgence endures. If it is achieved, it would inevitably exacerbate the negative impact modern farming has on water quality — no matter what the agri-food lobby argues.
Sometimes the self-destructive insanity plays out in plain view.
Jack Power, Inniscarra, Cork
Burden on owners
John Tierney's idea of dog-walking loops on farms is well-meaning, but risks placing a burden on farmers rather than where it belongs — on irresponsible dog owners.
Livestock-worrying, fouling, and trespass aren't caused by farmers, but by a minority of dog owners who refuse to control their animals. Farmers shouldn't have to adapt their land to fix this.
Responsible dog ownership, not more obligations for farmers, is the real solution. Until that's addressed, conflict will continue, through no fault of those who work the land.
Richard Vickery, Midleton, Cork