Letters: Each and every person deserves to be treated humanely and with respect
In fact, people in power (irrespective of religious views) are morally obliged to have an ethical long-term view of the effects of their policies.
There are ample historical examples of sadistic treatment of fellow human beings seen as 'others'.
Kristallnacht 1938; Hungary 1956; Mississippi 1964; Burntollet Bridge 1968; Bloody Sunday 1972.
The Gaza and Israel of today – will they ever meet other than violently?
This week Los Angeles was chosen because it is a Democrat-voting state, for no other reason than to stir up violence. As William Butler Yeats reminds his readers, responsibility lies with those who light the match; alas, the instigators walk away from their responsibilities.
Why? They reject the fact they are accountable for not only their soul, but the intellect given to each of us for the greater good of mankind.
Today greed is astronomical, when allied to ignorance – they become like oil and water.
Declan Foley, Melbourne, Australia
Parallels between Warsaw Ghetto and Gaza hard to ignore, despite protests
Gustawa Jarecka, a survivor and writer of the Warsaw Ghetto, depicted the effects of hunger and morale collapse among residents. We should all take note.
She writes in A Cup of Tears: A Diary of the Warsaw Ghetto a first-hand account of the desperation that led residents to commit horrible acts against one another in their struggle to survive. She could be writing about Gaza.
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Jarecka described the overwhelming obsession with food: 'The first days of hunger are the worst, then, it becomes bearable. First comes the weariness, your arms and legs feel heavy, each word becomes a painful noise ringing in the ears. The colours do not bring joy to the eyes; the light hurts them. You feel a constant thirst; chapped lips dry out.
'The jaws clench of their own accord and you feel a pain behind the ears at the sight of a tin spoon abandoned on a table. Then, thoughts about food start; terrible, exhausting daydreams.'
The purpose of the ghetto was to dehumanise the residents, to make them appear to their oppressors as less than human. The next stage was to displace, eradicate and replace.
The tragedy today is partly that we seem powerless to act to stop the crimes against humanity being committed by Israel. But isn't it a moral crime also to be cowed by anyone who uses the martyrs of the Warsaw Ghetto to justify identical crimes today?
For Israel to condemn anyone who draws the parallel between the Warsaw Ghetto and Gaza as 'antisemitic' is an absurdity.
Declan Doyle, Co Kilkenny
Seventy-year-old granny putting all those spineless EU politicians to shame
Seventy-year-old Cork grandmother D Murphy has been deported by Israel after spending time in Givon Prison because she felt she could not sit around while Palestinians are being killed and forced out of their homes in the Occupied West Bank – something that has been going on for decades.
I suggest EU politicians, who many would say 'talk out of both sides of their mouth', could learn from this lady.
Michael Moriarty, Rochestown, Co Cork
Our food processing chain gets more protection than elderly people in homes
At the moment in many food processing plants in Ireland there are full-time Department of Agriculture inspectors whose job is to ensure that rules and regulations are adhered to.
They have the authority to shut down lines when a problem arises and are not answerable to the owners of the plant. The cost of having them on site is recouped from the owners.
Would it not be possible to have a qualified person in a care home full-time to ensure nothing like what we witnessed on Prime Time would happen again?
That person would be there for the protection of both staff and patients. The benefits of having eyes and ears permanently in those homes would be immeasurable.
It may sound like drastic measures, but really, when we are revisiting a problem that most of us thought was no longer an issue, then maybe drastic measures are all that will work. Or is food safety more important than old age and abuse?
John Higgins, Ballina, Co Mayo
The magic of sport is its uncertainty – and that always breeds new hope
One of the joys of live sport is its unpredictability. Now that the dust has settled at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick, we can reflect on how nail-biting the Munster hurling final remained until the long-awaited final whistle.
The subsequent tie-breaker resolution leaves room for further debate.
For neutrals, no doubt it was an enthralling contest. For Cork supporters, there was the glorious satisfaction of winning another provincial championship. To the victors the spoils.
For this Limerick fan and my fellow believers, the phrase 'all is not lost' now carries deep and tantalising possibilities. Further twists will emerge as the hurling season continues to beguile us.
Tony Wallace, Longwood, Co Meath
With the greatest respect, Pride now highlights only the things that divide us
I'm frequently told by people of impeccable judgment that I haven't a vindictive bone in my body. By and large, I subscribe to the 'live and let live' philosophy'.
However, I'm beginning to find the relatively recent phenomenon of Pride events irritating in the extreme.
Why on earth do people have to make such a big deal of their sexuality? It shouldn't be your defining characteristic. There is much more to human beings than that. It's essentially a private matter and no one else's business.
I don't really want to know if anyone is heterosexual or homosexual, provided they are decent in their dealings with me.
So, while wishing those with same-sex attraction peace and contentment, can we please put an end to these Pride events? They only emphasise difference rather than our common humanity.
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Irish Independent
an hour ago
- Irish Independent
Ireland to take soundings over EU joining UK-led sanctions against far-right Israeli ministers
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has already criticised one of the two men – the Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich, leader of the National Religious Party-Religious Zionism. He and the Israeli security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir are to be sanctioned by the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway. The move has angered Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court in connection with alleged war crimes. Norway was previously involved with Ireland in a co-ordinated move to recognise a Palestinian state, which included diplomatic contact with Spain, Belgium, Malta and Slovenia last year. Ireland will explore possible sanctions from as early as next week, when Mr Martin attends a conference on a two-state solution, convened in New York by co-hosts France and Saudi Arabia. Sources said the contacts in New York could then potentially feed into discussion at an EU summit in Brussels the following week. EU high representative for foreign affairs Kaja Kallas has been monitoring the move of the UK-led bloc, none of which are EU members. An Irish government source said: 'We have pushed for such sanctions at EU level, including at the recent meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council on May 20, but it requires unanimity and that isn't there for sanctioning these individuals at this point.' Mr Martin is also pursuing the suspension of the EU-Israel trade agreement, which would have a paralysing effect on Israeli exports. He told the Dáil earlier this month: 'I believe the agreement should now be suspended, pending a review,' adding that Ireland and Spain had first called for scrutiny of the deal under its human rights provisions. Mr Martin said he was aware of 'reprehensible' comments from Mr Smotrich. He said Mr Smotrich had been 'speaking openly about conquering Gaza, and, with God's help, pushing the population south and into third countries'. 'So this is a senior minister of the Israeli government articulating in no uncertain terms what the agenda is – and it is absolutely reprehensible,' the Taoiseach added. 'It is also absolutely unacceptable that innocent people were abducted and remain hostages so long after October 7, 2023.' He said it was 'wholly unacceptable' to contemplate the mass displacement of people in Gaza, or to talk of permanent occupation. 'Not only is it an affront to decency and to international law, but history tells us that it offers no solution.'
Irish Post
9 hours ago
- Irish Post
In Ireland cattle is still king, but for how long?
AMERICAN firm Stacy May memorably declared that 'in the Irish economy cattle is king' when it released its economic report in the 1950s. 75 years later, the cattle and beef industry is still going strong, although they now share the economic crown with tech and pharmaceuticals. But behind the rolling green fields and premium quality beef, the industry faces a dual challenge: climate pressure at home and market instability abroad. Ireland's mild, wet climate makes it perfect for grass-growing year-round, which in turn is ideal for cattle farming. This natural setup allows cows to graze freely, reducing the need for indoor housing and expensive feed imports. From a welfare and economic standpoint, it's a win-win: lower costs and happier herds. Grass-fed cattle are not just a selling point for foreign markets; they also form the backbone of Irish dairy and beef production. Grass-based diets have long been linked with more nutritious and better-tasting meat and milk. This green image is a key selling point abroad, but it may also be its Achilles' heel. Despite the idyllic image of cattle grazing under the Irish sun, or more often the Irish rain, the environmental cost is particularly high. Methane from cattle digestion is a lot more potent than CO₂ as a greenhouse gas. The Environmental Protection Agency reports that the average cow emits around 2.3 metric tonnes of CO₂ a year. Agriculture now accounts for about a third of Ireland's total emissions. Despite a livestock population of over seven million cattle and five million sheep, Ireland did not meet its 2020 EU emissions targets and could now face potential penalties. Alongside Malta, it is one of just two EU member states that missed its carbon reduction goals. Various ways to tackle this have been raised over the years, including modifying cattle diets to include lower-fibre feed or using biodigesters to recycle manure. One promising solution involves sending any money from EU fines towards establishing a national institute for sustainable agriculture research. Such a centre could explore new practices like silvopasture, which integrates tree planting into grazing areas, which has shown promise in Spain with the famed acorn-fed Jamón Ibérico pork. Not only do trees trap carbon, but they also provide shelter and food sources for livestock. Offsetting emissions through tree planting, especially with native trees like oak, could also make a big difference. With beef and dairy consumption slowly falling each year across Europe, the industry faces both economic and environmental headwinds. Helping farmers adapt now could help in the long term and position Ireland as a global leader in sustainable agriculture. Currently, Irish beef prices have reached record levels, driven by tight supplies across Britain and Europe. Live exports are up 17%, which amounts to roughly 34,000 head. While a fall in calf registrations, along with decreasing suckler and dairy cow numbers, is tightening the supply line. Ireland's overall number of cattle fell by over 200,000 in 2024, a 3.3% decrease. Suckler cows fell by 6.2%, and dairy herds shrank by 2%, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO). These numbers are echoed throughout Europe. The European Commission expects a 1% drop in beef production in 2025 and projects a 0.6 million tonne reduction by 2035. Suckler cow numbers alone are forecast to fall 11% EU-wide during this time. Britain faces similar shortfalls. The suckler cow population dropped by nearly 5%, although the dairy herd grew slightly. Disease outbreaks like bluetongue in Europe have also added to cattle supply chain issues. Ireland's reputation for premium beef is seen as a big selling point internationally, including recent access to the South Korean market. After a two-decade absence due to BSE-related bans, Irish beef returned to Korean shelves in May 2024. A recent trade mission to Seoul, led by Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon, aimed to strengthen trade between the two countries. 'Korean consumers associate beef as being the top purchase for protein,' Heydon said. 'Grass-fed beef is considered the healthier option, which fits very well with our Irish product.' With four Irish processors now certified to export to Korea and the first shipments already there, Bord Bia seems quite confident for the future. Although 2024 food exports to Korea amounted to only €36 million, a small portion of the €17 billion global total, the priority seems to be forming long-term partnerships. 'The value is in the values,' said Bord Bia CEO Jim O'Toole, noting Korean interest in both quality and sustainability. Ireland's cattle and beef industry is entering a new era. On one hand, it enjoys strong global demand, especially in premium markets. On the other, it faces existential environmental challenges and continuing decline in Europe. If cattle is still king, it's a monarch facing very modern challenges. See More: Beef, Cattle, Economy, Martin Heydon, South Korea
Irish Independent
10 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Growing hope of trade deal to avoid tariffs between EU and US, says Tanaiste Simon Harris
Simon Harris, said the 'mood music' has improved in recent days and that he is more 'encouraged' following a discussion earlier today with Donald Trump's Trade Representative, Jamieson Greer. Last month Trump lashed out an EU negotiators and threatened a 50pc tariff from June 1 as punishment for 'our discussions with them going nowhere.' But a phone call with the European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen two days later put discussions back on track and pushed the tariffs start date back to July. With that deadline approaching Minister Harris said: 'there isn't a day to lose' and while there is a 'way to go.. negotiations have now begun in earnest'. He said: 'What we need to find out in the days ahead, is there a landing zone that can work for everyone? And quite frankly, there has to be because this transatlantic trade agreement matters.' The EU and Ireland want to negotiate an outcome, he said 'and from my discussion with President Trump's trade representative, I think he wants that as well.' The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade said: 'The deadline for the pause in tariffs will run out in July so it is very important that people intensively engage, there isn't a day to lose here. "But I do now think that the mood music, in terms of trying to find a deal, to find agreement, is somewhat better than what it was days ago. The relationship is worth more than €1.4 trillion between the EU and US 'it cannot be snuffed at and therefore a solution has to be found,' he said. On Tuesday Minister Harris told Cabinet colleagues that he would urge the EU to exempt key sectors key to the Irish economy from any retaliatory tariffs should the current negotiations fail. These would include aviation, medical, agrifood and the equine industry. In a letter to the EU's negotiator, Maros Sefcovic, he also urged the trade commissioner to ensure that any retaliation against the US would not adversely impact the North. Although talks between the EU and US have intensified in recent days, the EU has been preparing a list of hundreds of US products worth some €95bn.
