Latest news with #CarlOBrien
Irish Times
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
Letters to the Editor May 28th: On Leaving Cert delays; offshore energy and Jayne Mansfield
Sir, –In Carl O'Brien's article in Monday's edition ( Leaving Cert reforms to be delayed in two key subjects) , he reports on the decision to delay the introduction of new subject specifications for Senior Cycle English and Accounting, after 'education authorities acknowledged that more time is needed to prepare for the changes', specifically in the planning for the Additional Assessment Components (AACs) in those subjects. I think this is prudent from the Department of Education and the Minister, as it is imperative that every effort is made to build solid foundations for a successful reform of the Leaving Certificate. However, it is disappointing that the same good judgment isn't being applied as schools prepare for the introduction of complex AACs in Leaving Cert Biology, Chemistry and Physics, being introduced into our schools this September. There are arguably far greater logistical and equity issues with their introduction; namely, a lack of school laboratories in schools (including many disadvantaged schools), a lack of specialist scientific equipment in those labs, no updated laboratory safety guidance or (long promised) guidelines on artificial intelligence. READ MORE While the Department of Education have announced additional funding for science in schools, the chemical supply companies are struggling to meet demand for updated equipment and there is no mechanism for schools to upgrade or expand their existing laboratory provision until the summer of 2026. Despite these issues, which have been brought to the Minister's attention by the teaching unions, the Irish Science Teachers' Association (82 per cent of their members say their schools are not equipped to facilitate these assessments), leading educationalists like Áine Hyland, your own columnists (including Breda O'Brien) and even within the NCCA's Subject Development Groups, they have been consistently ignored. The ISTA's sensible proposal to delay the AACs in those subjects – to provide the necessary time to address these challenges – have fallen on deaf ears; the ISTA proposal would still see the new subject curriculums in schools in September. While it's assuring to see common sense prevail with the decision to delay the introduction of English and Accounting, one hopes there is more common sense to go around and a judicious delay on the AACs in the senior sciences is also considered strongly. – Yours, etc, HUMPHREY JONES, Chairperson, Irish Science Teachers' Association Dublin 16 Mother's nature Like Bríd Miller (Letters May 26th), I very much enjoy Brianna Parkins's columns. I too had a mother who had views on clothes. On seeing an outfit which she did not like she would say 'Is that the fashion?'. Quite daunting! – Yours, etc. ANNE DOHERTY, Dublin 7 Planning and wind energy Sir, – Kevin O'Sullivan's article ( 'Wind Energy Ireland warns immediate Government action needed 'to protect' offshore wind 'opportunity'' May 27th ) points to increasing pressure on the Government to accelerate offshore wind development. While the need for progress is clear, proposals to streamline the planning process raise valid concerns. An Bord Pleanála plays a key role in ensuring that large-scale projects are properly assessed, and that scrutiny must be maintained to ensure fair and accountable decision making. In response to recent planning applications, the Board issued extensive requests for further information on east-coast projects including marine mammal disturbance, migratory bird routes, underwater noise, sediment transport, and the impact on tourism assets. Similar information requests probe cumulative environmental effects, commercial-fisheries safeguards, subsea-cable routing and onshore traffic management. The developments in question are often proposed in ecologically sensitive nearshore areas which require careful and informed assessment. Even a well-resourced planning authority will typically need multiple rounds of detailed information to fully understand the potential effects on marine ecosystems before any decision can be made. This is a necessary part of a responsible and transparent planning process. It is surprising for industry spokespeople to suggest that such concerns should have been entirely resolved at 'pre-planning' stage. Modern offshore projects span hundreds of square kilometres and involve turbines over 300 metres tall. Fast-tracking or bypassing such an important democratic safeguard risks undermining the planning system that protects biodiversity and heritage and ensures compliance with European environmental law. Since the Arklow Bank turbines were built almost 25 years ago, our offshore ambitions have repeatedly stalled. The shared failure of government and industry to deliver substantial new capacity should prompt sober reflection, not finger-pointing. The wind lobby would do well to acknowledge the reasons behind the volume of further information requests and public objections to these offshore projects, rather than viewing them as obstacles. The Government must resist pressure to override proper planning procedures in pursuit of short-term targets. Only through a transparent, evidence-based process that respects ecosystems, communities and established planning norms can Ireland meet its 2030 renewables and climate commitments. – Yours, etc MICHAEL O'MEARA, Fenor, Co Waterford. The cycle continues Sir, – I am not anti cyclists per se, but I have a big problem with a large majority of them who think a red traffic light entitles them to continue cycling. I very seldom see a cyclist stop at a red light/pedestrian crossing. I have pedestrian lights outside my gate and have never seen a cyclist stop on red. Also, why is there no law enforcing people to wear a helmet and a reflective band of some sort? I simply do not understand anybody getting on a bike without a helmet. – Yours, etc, LAURA O'MARA, Stillorgan, Co Dublin. Sir, – As a cyclist in Dublin for several decades, I can identify with Joe Humphrey's article. I too have impure thoughts as I glide by immobile cars, stuck yet again, in a traffic jam. I am also convinced that it is the supreme way to travel, especially in a city. Of all the drivers in Dublin city, my greatest respect and admiration goes to bus drivers. When, by necessity, I am in a bus lane and know there is a bus behind me that is unable to pass me, the driver has never honked at me to get out of the way. Obviously, not choosing to be right in front of a bus, I do get out of the way when I can. Even with such a large vehicle, bus drivers are never threatening to me as a cyclist, and observe the rules of the road in signalling and pulling out. Would that all road users would follow their good example and show likewise tolerance for each other. In conclusion, I often think of the line from 'Oklahoma' 'The cowboy and the farmer can be friends.' – Yours , etc, KATHLEEN FORDE, Whitehall, Dublin 9. Some bus service Sir, – I flagged down a bus from Malaga to the famous caves of Tesoro. My bus card was the wrong type. A young couple offered to let me use theirs for free. An elderly lady did also. Even the bus driver said it was ok to come on board. Not one spoke a word of English. I wonder what the Spanish phrase for 'blown away' is? –Yours, etc DAVID CURRAN, Knocknacarra, Co Galway. High definition Sir, – Your article (Irish revolutionary Madeleine ffrench-Mullen to be honoured with plaque at childhood home, May 24th ) states that the aforementioned and her partner Kathleen Lynn were 'radical Irish nationalists despite coming from middle-class Protestant backgrounds.' Really – Wolfe Tone, Robert Emmet, Bulmer Hobson, Thomas Davis, Maud Gonne, Constance Gore-Booth? Maybe not as strict a delineation as the word 'despite' would suggest. –Yours, etc DAVID CLARKE, Edinburgh, Scotland. Jayne Mansfield comes to town On reading Tara Brady's report from the Cannes Film Festival (May19th) , and her coverage of Mariska Hargitay's documentary on Jayne Mansfield, 'My mom Jayne', I was taken straight back to Sunday, 23rd April, 1967 when my eleven-year-old self attended morning Mass in Saint John's Church, Tralee. The celebrant read out a letter from the Roman Catholic Bishop of Kerry, Denis Moynihan, giving a whack of the episcopal crozier to Ms Mansfield's planned appearance at the Mount Brandon Hotel's ballroom that very evening. Naturally, His Lordship did not deign to mention the American star by name, we were told that 'a woman is being brought here tonight', rather as if Jayne Mansfield was making her way from Shannon Airport to Kerry under duress. The solemnly read letter made it clear to the bishop's flock that attending the performance to be given by 'the Goddess of Lust' would adversely affect his diocese's moral fibre. Bishop Moynihan's subordinate, Tralee's parish priest, the Dean of Kerry, Monsignor John Lane, went further, thundering about 'this attempt to besmirch the name of our town for the sake of filthy gain'. Perhaps the real concern of both these pillars of moral rectitude was that the punters were expected to turf out 10 shillings, a considerable sum in the Ireland of the mid-1960s, to admire the talents of the American 'sex siren' who was to receive £1,000 for singing six songs over a mere 35 minutes on stage. However, such was the clout of clerical strictures back then that he Bishop and the Dean got their way, even if hundreds of people turned up at the hotel to witness the arrival of the 'working man's Marilyn Monroe'. A hastily convened press conference informed the nation that the backup band's van had sadly broken down on the road from Dublin. Jayne Mansfield's performance was consequently cancelled and the punters could keep their ten shillings while consoling themselves, at the usual Sunday night ticket price, with local band D.J. (Curtin) and the Kerry Blues who had been lined up to back the American star in the first place. The much-talented Mansfield was tragically killed in a car accident in Mississipi two months later, leaving five children motherless. Almost six decades later we can look back with a mixture of amusement, annoyance, nostalgia and outrage to a time when such an innocuous event as an artiste's ballroom appearance could cause considerable controversy and push all our problems firmly on to the back burner while we in Kerry talked about little else. – Yours, etc, STEPHEN O'SULLIVAN, Paris, France. Housing solution Sir, –The solution to Ireland's housing and infrastructure problem is simple: Declare an emergency, cut through the planning bureaucracy and bring in several thousand skilled workers at all levels for a period of up to five years. The latter could be housed in spare cruise liners berthed around our ports so as not to add to the housing problem. An expensive solution? Yes, but the payback over the subsequent decades would justify this approach. – Yours, etc, JOE DUNNE, Co Cork. Trump's Harvard campaign Sir, – You report that Donald Trump has intensified his campaign against Harvard university, describing its international students as including 'radicalised lunatics' and threatening to take away billions in grants ('Trump threatens to give €3 billion in Harvard grants to trade schools', World, May 27th) . This is part of a wider attack by his administration, of course, on free speech within US academia and, regrettably, there has been some degree of compliance. Fintan O'Toole, among others, has highlighted, for example, the apparent capitulation of New York's prestigious Columbia University to the unethical pressure it has been put under by an increasingly authoritarian Trump administration ('If US universities won't stand up to Trump, no one will', Opinion, May 20th). In all of this, there are profoundly consequential issues at stake regarding intellectual freedom, academic independence and, more generally, around the right to protest and publicly dissent. It is clear that these principles are under threat and not just in the United States. This attack on intellectual freedom has been framed by the Trump administration as a counteraction to the vile belief system of anti-Semitism, but this is self-evidently a Trojan horse and the primary impetus is ideological and aimed at undermining presumed strongholds of 'liberal' or 'woke' values. Nonetheless, it is particularly disturbing that this aggressive suppression of academic independence and free speech is being done in defence of Israel's actions in Gaza. We live in dark times. – Yours, etc, FINTAN LANE, Lucan, Co Dublin.
Irish Times
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Letters to the Editor, May 9th: On religion in the classroom, Hamas, Kneecap and skorts
Religion in the classroom Sir, – Paddy Monahan of Education Equality has written a very powerful piece (Opinion, Thursday, May 8th) on the need to have faith formation moved outside of our classrooms. It has all been said before, of course, and it is shocking, in this day and age, that it is necessary to keep on reiterating the need for what is a basic requirement in an otherwise diverse, open-minded, and anti-discriminatory society. The article reminds us that, at least up to now, the needs and opinions of that most important element of our educational establishment, the teachers, have been ignored. Perhaps, at last, they will find themselves in a position to affect the outcome, just as the camogie players have found it possible to make their voices heard over the rigid demands of those who would appeal to 'tradition' to impede proper progress. – Yours, etc, SEAMUS McKENNA, READ MORE Maynooth, Kildare School places for autistic children Sir, – I read with concern Carl O'Brien's recent article (' Schools put up barriers to entry for pupils with autism ', Home News, May 8th) highlighting the Department of Education's disturbing findings on discriminatory admissions policies affecting autistic children and those with learning difficulties in our publicly funded schools. It is deeply troubling that, in 2025, almost all of the primary and post-primary schools examined in the department's own review continue to include exclusionary clauses in their admissions policies. These policies – whether requiring a child to participate in mainstream classes, setting arbitrary disability thresholds, or using resource availability as an excuse – clearly contravene the legislative intent behind inclusive education. As a taxpayer and advocate for equitable public services, I find it unacceptable that schools receiving State funding continue to defy both the spirit and letter of the law. Even more disheartening is the continuity of such failures across successive governments, despite policy commitments from previous administrations led by both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to promote inclusion and equality in education. The response – urging patron bodies to review their policies – is welcome but insufficient. It is not enough to request voluntary compliance from institutions that have demonstrated a persistent reluctance to meet their legal obligations. This issue demands more than polite reminders; it requires enforceable action. Furthermore, while schools cite a lack of resources and specialist support, this does not excuse the active marginalisation of children with greater needs. It merely highlights the need for robust planning, dedicated funding, and training, which the department must ensure is delivered effectively and transparently. Ireland cannot claim to value inclusivity while it systemically excludes some of its most vulnerable children from equitable access to education. The time for studies and statements has passed. It is now time for decisive leadership and accountability. – Yours, etc, MANDY WILLIAMS, Dublin 14. Hamas and Kneecap Sir, – Vittorio Bufacchi (' Kneecap deserve credit rather than condemnation ', Opinion, May 3rd) and others may consider 'Up Hamas' as an expression of support for the Palestinian people suffering under the Israeli government's criminal attacks but it also frees Hamas from its co-responsibility for that suffering. The October 7th, 2023, attack, a dastardly war crime in itself, was clearly carried out in order to provoke an outrageous and equally criminal reprisal by Israel on the people of Gaza which would then restore some semblance of legitimacy to Hamas's thuggish and corrupt control of the territory. The combination of corruption in Israeli and US politics and European guilt has given the racists and genocidaires in the Israeli government the opportunity for horror far beyond what was expected, but this does not in any way decrease Hamas's co-responsibility for those crimes against the Palestinian people. At least Hamas is officially treated as the terrorist organisation it is, with associated sanctions. It is past time for all individuals and organisations supporting ethnic cleansing 'between the river and the sea' to be treated equally. If Taoiseach Mícheál Martin is serious about his condemnation of Israel's crimes in Gaza and the West Bank, then the Irish Government must, at a minimum, declare as terrorists Bezalel Smotrich, Itamar Ben-Gvir, ministers in the current Israeli government, and their political parties. Our government must push for the EU to act as well and to implement the same sanctions as apply to other terrorists and terrorist organisations. – Yours, etc, LIAM MULLIGAN, Letterkenny, Co Donegal. Athena Swan Sir, – The defences of Athena Swan offered by Kathleen James-Chakraborty and Joseph O'Shea (Letters, May 7th ) reflect a troubling complacency about the erosion of academic freedom in Irish universities. Whatever its original aim, Athena Swan has evolved into an ideological mechanism, pressuring institutions to adopt contested beliefs about gender identity without open debate. Prof James-Chakraborty's claim that she has never heard these concerns voiced underscores the problem. The silence isn't evidence of consensus – it's a sign that many feel unable to speak without risking reputational or professional damage. Athena Swan encourages this culture of conformity. It demands alignment with policies that reframe sex as gender identity, marginalise women's concerns about single-sex spaces, and enforce institutional language codes. These are not neutral inclusivity measures – they reflect a contested worldview. Mr O'Shea's assertion that 'progressive values' do not amount to censorship ignores the reality that only one perspective on gender identity is institutionally acceptable. Compliance is rewarded with funding and reputational gain, while dissent is pathologised. Even more disturbing is the failure of Irish public broadcasters to provide space for this debate. RTÉ and others have consistently avoided serious coverage of the implications of gender identity policy, particularly for women and children. That this discussion is happening on the letters pages, and not on national airwaves, is an indictment of our media culture. In this climate, organisations like Genspect Ireland, of which I am a member, have emerged to give voice to the growing number of academics, clinicians, parents and others asking the questions our institutions refuse to confront. We exist not because the debate is unimportant, but because it has been actively suppressed. The concerns raised by Colette Colfer and John Armstrong (' Why do we have a charter for thought control in Irish universities? ', Education, May 6th) are not 'overblown.' They are urgent, and broadcasters should be hosting these conversations, not avoiding them. – Yours, etc, SARA MORRISON, Genspect Ireland, Belfast. Legacy of Pope Francis Sir, – Referring to some positive outcomes of Laudato Si', the 2015 encyclical letter by Pope Francis, Jane Mellett ( Letters, May 8th ) mentions that in 2023 the Irish bishops 'sked parishes across the country to return 30 per cent of church grounds to nature in an effort to address the biodiversity crisis locally and nationally'. I am not a bishop, but like millions of Irish people, I have considerable power and influence when it comes to my own garden. Now wouldn't it be something special if the 30 per cent rule was applied by all of us lucky enough to be able to choose how to care for our own patch of the Earth? In return we could look forward to birdsong, the buzzing of insects and the pleasure of sitting in the shade of a beautiful tree or two (hazel or hawthorn perhaps?), leaves rustling above our heads, as we sit out on a summer afternoon with the good feeling one gets from giving! – Yours, etc, KATHY QUIRKE, Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin. Death of Derek Evans Sir, – I read with great sadness of the death of my fellow angling writer Derek Evans . I spent many happy hours in his company enjoying some of Ireland's finest fisheries and we last cast a line together on his beloved Lough Mask. Derek was the epitome of the gentleman angler and understood the three certainties in life are death, taxes and leaky waders. He will be greatly missed by his many friends in the north. Tight lines. – Yours, etc, MAURICE NEILL, Kesh, Co Fermanagh Skorts Sir, – As a compromise, the Camogie Association should strive for a skort-term letting arrangement. – Yours, etc, ULTAN Ó BROIN, Blackrock, Co Dublin. Sir, – Just to be clear, the word 'skort' originated from the combination of the words 'skirt' and 'short'. It should not be confused by the good people of south Dublin as coming from the Ross O'Carroll-Kelly dictionary that has introduced many new words to the English language including 'gords', 'morketing' and 'First Orts'. – Yours, etc, PADRAIG McGARTY, Mohill, Co Leitrim. Sir, – It is about time one of our most cherished and venerable national organisations retired its anachronistic and outmoded attire. Wearers are regularly embarrassed, exposed and made to look foolish – especially when performing cartwheels or somersaults in the heat of battle or on the field of play. After careful and exhaustive inquiry it is time to abolish barristers' wigs. This should be done in skort order. – Yours, etc, MICHAEL DEASY, Bandon, Co Cork. Greyhound racing and gambling Sir, – In response to the recent correspondence regarding greyhound racing and underage exposure to gambling ( Letters, May 3rd ), it is important to distinguish between exposure and participation, and to acknowledge the role of informed, responsible choices made by adults. Sporting events in Ireland – from greyhound racing to horse racing, football, and GAA matches – often include ancillary elements such as betting and alcohol. These have long been part of the wider social and cultural experience, but participation in them remains a choice, not an inevitability. Adults attending such events do so with the awareness of their responsibilities, especially when accompanied by children. Greyhound Racing Ireland and similar organisations promote family attendance not to normalise gambling, but to offer inclusive community events. Attending a race meeting does not equate to encouraging gambling any more than attending a pub for a meal equates to encouraging underage drinking. The reality is that shielding young people entirely from the existence of adult behaviours is not a long-term strategy. A more effective approach lies in open discussion, education, and informed decision-making – not removing families from public events where such behaviours are legally and responsibly engaged in by adults. Rather than condemning all exposure, we should trust in the ability of parents to guide their children and teach them the difference between participation and observation. – Yours, etc. PEARSE LYNCH, Monkstown, Co Dublin. Closure of Castletown House Sir, – Donough Cahill in his letter to The Irish Times ( Letters, May 8th ) highlights the importance of Castletown House, and the wonderful work undertaken to restore it. Local communities also appreciate the outstanding work of ground staff restoring the many paths and pond which formed part of the designed landscape. The Office of Public Works ground staff have won biodiversity awards for their work restoring the meadows. We congratulate the staff for this work, and are outraged by the vandalism of recent days. The Minister must act to restore the M4 access route to the house, which has been in use since 2007, but has been blocked by a new owner. He also has other options to gain vehicular access for staff, while maintaining Lime Avenue, the only level, safe, walking path for vulnerable pedestrians. – Yours, etc, MONICA JOY, Castletown, Celbridge, Co Kildare. In defence of Parkside I read your article, ' Residents of north Dublin housing estate fear antisocial behaviour us putting lives at risk ', (Home News, May 7th) with interest, both as a resident of Parkside and as a Dublin city councillor for Donaghmede wathe rd. In the interest of fairness and balance I believe it is important to also highlight the positive efforts and community spirit that define the Parkside area. The issues reflect real concerns. But what I feel the piece missed was the other half of the story – the resilience of this community, the progress already being made, and the real reasons so many of the residents continue to proudly call this area home. Parkside, Belmayne, and Clongriffin are young, diverse, and growing neighbourhoods. With that comes growing pains – but also enormous opportunity. We have already seen strong, community-led progress. Residents came together to establish a Neighbourhood Watch scheme in Parkside last year. The group works in closely with gardaí and it is a great example of what's possible when community and authorities work together. Similarly, with support from Dublin City Council, the Parkside Community Association was established – a vital platform for residents to have a say in how their area develops. This group has organised successful events, including an Easter celebration. It also participated in the National Spring Clean initiative and it continues to grow in strength. This community is not without its issues, but it is also full of hope, strength, and progress. I see it every day – in the families, in the volunteers, local community groups and in the people who invest time and energy into building a better future here. Many of them have chosen this as their forever home, and we all remain fully committed to that choice. – Yours, etc, SUPRIYA SINGH, Councillor, Donaghmede LEA, Dublin City Council. Future of libraries Sir, – I am writing to express my frustration regarding the closure of my local library during the Easter break. My son recently returned from college but still had upcoming examinations, a common occurrence among college and pre-college students during this period. This closure raises a pertinent question about the role of libraries in the modern world. I believe that libraries should be transformed into active open spaces or hubs dedicated to slow learning. They could also serve as places of 'quiet' and 'reflection' in an increasingly noisy world, with dedicated 'spaces' within. Modern churches, if you will. Essentially, they need to be open and active in the community. Only then can they justify the State's investment in their maintenance and operation. – Yours, etc, TONY HUTCHINSON, Mullingar, Co Westmeath.
