Letters to the Editor, April 30th: On China's influence in Ireland, Spanish power cuts and Pope Francis

Irish Times

30-04-2025

China and Ireland
Sir, – We have noted with serious concern the article titled '
China exerts control from a nondescript office on Dublin's Capel Street
,' published on Monday, April 28th, along with related reports by Colm Keena. Regrettably, the article presents a distorted account of the facts, reflects evident biases, and risks creating unnecessary fear and misunderstanding – developments that are both undesirable and unhelpful.
The article appears to suggest, without basis, that members of the overseas Chinese community are subject to manipulation by the Chinese government. It misrepresents legitimate and lawful interactions between overseas Chinese communities and Chinese institutions as efforts to 'influence local policy environments'. Such portrayals mischaracterise the nature of these relationships, potentially undermining mutual trust and hindering normal exchanges and co-operation between China and Ireland.
China has always engaged with overseas Chinese communities in a manner that is open, transparent, and fully consistent with the laws and regulations of host countries, including Ireland. The so-called 'evidence' referenced in the article consists largely of speculation and misinterpretation, and we respectfully but firmly reject such unfounded claims.
We are particularly concerned by the inclusion of large photographs of individual members of the Chinese community, which could be perceived as targeting private individuals and may cause unwarranted disruption to their personal and professional lives.
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The Chinese Embassy has formally communicated our position to the journalist involved and provided clarifications regarding the facts. While we prefer to avoid responding to unfounded provocations, we believe it is important to uphold the principles of fairness, accuracy, and professional ethics in journalism.
We sincerely hope that relevant media outlets will adhere to a spirit of objectivity and responsibility, refrain from disseminating misleading information, and work towards fostering greater understanding and friendship between the peoples of China and Ireland. – Yours, etc,
GUO BIN,
Spokesperson,
Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Ireland
Women and trans rights
Sir, – Your columnist Una Mullally accuses JK Rowling of having 'inflamed [the] discourse' on discussion of biological sex and gender identity ('
Let's not import British toxicity about trans people
,' Opinion, 28th April).
She then goes on to spray some oil on the flames herself, notably the characterisation of Irish people who disagree with her on the subject as being kin to Nigel Farage or Kemi Badenoch or as sympathising with the '
outlandish claims of British trans-exclusionary feminism
(my italics)'. In a word, she labels them as un-Irish.
This is no more a contribution to furthering the complex conversation between trans people and those whose biological sex and gender identity are aligned than is columnist Michael McDowell's talk of trans 'ideology' (it's a human condition, Senator) or his simplicities about 'sex understood as a binary concept' ('
Women have a right to their own events and spaces
,' Opinion, April 23rd). – Yours, etc,
DAVID McKENNA,
Dublin 8.
Strategic housing activation office
Sir, – Taoiseach Micheál Martin's 'understanding' of the concerns raised about the costs involved for the proposed new, wonderfully sounding, 'Strategic Housing Activation Office', sounds a tad dismissive ('
Taoiseach understands public concern over mooted €430,000 salary for 'housing tsar'
,' April 29th).
This is particularly so when, having got past the incomprehensible jargon, one notes that the Government department supposed to be responsible for housing matters currently has a Minister, three Ministers of State, a general secretary, two directors, and nine assistant secretaries. We would all be better serviced if the Government stopped building empires and built a few more houses instead. – Yours, etc,
JIM O'SULLIVAN,
Rathedmond,
Co Sligo.
The death of Pope Francis
Sir,
–
In Saturday's Irish Times Weekend supplement, Derek Scally informs us in his cover story,
After Francis
, that 'when Catholics say a final farewell to Pope Francis today, the church he leaves behind has 10 per cent more members than 12 years ago, when he took over'. I would question the basis for such a statistic about membership of the Catholic Church.
Scally also informs us in his article that in Europe, including the UK, those identifying as Catholics is significantly reducing. Furthermore, those identifying as of no faith is rising significantly around the world, including the United States. Scally writes 'the numbers (in Ireland) ticking the `no religion' box jumped by 187 per cent and make up 14 per cent of the population'. So how does the Catholic church count its members?
My parents brought me as an infant of only a few days to be enrolled as a member into the Catholic Church. I was just an infant. When I became an atheist at least 25 years ago I requested of the Parish Priest that my name be removed from the membership of his church as I was no longer Catholic, that I rejected the Christian creed. This priest told me that there was no way this could be done. My registration as a Catholic, through baptism, remains a historical record that cannot be undone.
It appears that even as a strong atheist I'm still a card-carrying Catholic. It is no wonder then that the Catholic Church can claim to have '10 per cent more members than 12 years ago'. You cannot it seems have your name removed from their membership lists once they get their hands on you as an innocent infant.
MICHAEL MARTIN,
Clonsilla,
Dublin 15.
Sir, – Robin Heather (
Letters, April 28th
) is so correct in his criticism of RTÉ's coverage of Pope Francis's funeral. The continual interviews and voiceovers spoiled it. The final straw was a voice translating the Lord's Prayer when the beautiful singing of Pater Noster needed to be just heard. Over to BBC and blessed silence to enjoy. Thanks to BBC for allowing us to enjoy the whole experience and atmosphere and beautiful singing. Utter insensitivity on RTÉ's part. – Yours, etc,
MONICA POWER,
Galway.
Climate change
Sir, – Your editorial ('
The Irish Times view on the climate emergency: vital to combat toxic disinformation
', April 28th) refers to climate change as a 'hypothesis' rather than a theory or fact. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPPC) the influence of human activity on climate has evolved from theory to scientific fact since the 1970s.
A hypothesis is a tentative explanation of some observed phenomenon or piece of research and this can be tested by further investigation. Climate science has moved a long way now from when climate change was considered to be a hypothesis.
It is misleading to use hypothesis in relation to climate change because it implies that there is still some doubt and discussion about the reality of climate change. This could lead to resistance from members of the public to necessary changes in how we live which will be needed if we are going to reduce the dangerous effects of climate change. – Yours, etc,
NICK ARMSTRONG,
Dundrum,
Dublin 16
Lifelong learning
Sir, – Emmet Malone accurately describes lifelong learning as transformative ('
It's been completely transformative for me, really life-affirming
', Irish Times, April 29th, 2025). That was a key message in the Department of Education White Paper, Charting Our Education Future, published exactly 30 years ago.
In the foreword to that White Paper, the then minister for education, Niamh Bhreathnach, argued that: 'The ultimate objective of the strategies set out in this White Paper is an education system which will provide every student with fulfilling educational experiences at every stage in a lifetime of learning.' – Yours, etc.
TOM FERRIS,
Blackrock,
Co Dublin.
When the lights go out
Sir, – I was en route through one of Spain's bigger cities on Monday when the lights went out, still having a considerable journey to complete.
Very quickly another form of light began to emerge. The co-operative patience and courtesy of fellow drivers, negotiating very challenging Spanish roundabouts and spaghetti junctions, destitute of red and green signals, together with the pragmatic and understanding attitude of the quickly deployed traffic police, was impressively reassuring.
This experience on the road, together with similar propriety at my destination, reassured me of just how enlightened and civilised a species we can be and especially – perhaps because – indications were quickly emerging of an unknown crisis of national proportions. – Yours, etc,
MICHAEL GANNON,
Kilkenny City
First cuckoo of the season
Sir, – What a delightful sound to hear the cuckoo yesterday in the vicinity of Moycullen. Summer is just around the corner. – Yours, etc,
JOSEPH TUMMON,
Circular Road,
Galway.
Teacher conferences
Sir, – I wish to take issue with how Aileen Hooper represents the Irish National Teachers' Organisation congress debate on religious certificates for teachers (
Letters, April 26th
).
I wrote the motion discussed. It generated more interest than any other motion, with seven teachers speaking in favour and four against. At least seven more were prepared to support it but were denied the chance. One principal of a Catholic school even approached me privately to say he was '100 per cent' supportive but was too fearful to speak publicly – a fear that is entirely understandable under a congress system where votes are made by raising cards for all to see.
Teachers are afraid. That's why the INTO taskforce's anonymous survey revealed the truth: most teachers do not teach faith formation willingly, and only 4 per cent believe they should be preparing children for sacraments.
Ms Hooper's comparison with Saudi Arabia is absurd. Irish teachers abroad are not required to teach Islam, yet at home we must teach Catholic doctrine as truth.
The congress debate was not some balanced exchange of coherent arguments. It was a clear call for human rights set against a defensive plea to protect the status quo.
The Department of Education cannot continue to abdicate responsibility. It is unacceptable that children are excluded during religion classes, then asked moments later to engage in 'wellbeing' lessons on inclusion and belonging. These contradictions are not just unfair – they are damaging.
Already one of the least diverse professions in Ireland, teachers must not be forced to compromise their beliefs for employment. Human rights should never be left to a show-of-hands vote. A citizens' assembly would reflect Ireland's true, evolving values: inclusion, equality, and respect for every child. Perhaps this is why the government has abandoned it.
It's long past time Ireland's education system moved out from under the shadow of its past. – Yours, etc,
ALANA WILHELM,
Education Equality Teacher Representative,
INTO delegate,
Blessington,
Co Wicklow.
John de Courcy Ireland
Sir,- Your piece (
An Irishman's Diary, April 29th
) on the contribution of John de Courcy Ireland to raising the profile of all things maritime in Irish life and history was a timely reminder of his impact on so much and so many during his long life.
Perhaps it could be added that the bulk of his teaching career (from the early 1950s) was at the aptly named Kingstown School, Dún Laoghaire – from 1968 a component of Newpark Comprehensive. In that school (which I had the privilege of attending from 1954 to 1963), he was an educational giant, a visionary of great enthusiasm and wisdom.
Through him, we were guided to not just one but three Leaving Certificate subjects: geography, history and French. Not surprisingly, perhaps, the history period we studied was the Renaissance, while the French book we read was Pêcheur d'Islande, by the Breton writer Pierre Loti. And his geography had the added authority of a much-travelled man who gave vacation time to researching little-known Irish links with Yugoslavia and Algeria, among many other places.
As the 1943 Catholic Standard article to which you refer unwittingly highlighted by its insular and curmudgeonly critique, de Courcy Ireland was ahead of his time in his outlook. He deserves to be recognised as a formative figure in modern Ireland, and as a true European in the broadest possible sense. – Yours, etc,
ARNOLD HORNER,
Glenageary,
Co Dublin.
Canada's hour of need
Sir, – When we in Ireland were in deep need of friends and support during the last financial crash our friends in Canada supported us at the highest level.
Mark Carney, then governor of Bank of Canada, and the late Jim Flaherty, then Canadian finance minister, supported us at International Monetary Fund meetings.
Now Canada needs our support, its very existence is being threatened through tariffs and annexation by US president Donald Trump.
We should now endorse the Comprehensive Economic and Trade agreement (CETA) between the European Union and Canada.
We are the only EU country that has not endorsed it. Is this the way we show our gratitude for supporting us in time of need.
We now need to show our support and gratitude to Mark Carney and Canada. − Yours, etc,
VINCENT CARROLL
Willbrook road,
Dublin 14