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Irish Independent
4 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Letters: Youth can be no excuse for those responsible for acts of violence on our streets
I am being asked by my friends in India about how safe Ireland is. Some of them were earlier asking if their children could come and study in Ireland, as it was considered safe. They were prepared to spend thousands of euro to send them for third-level education. Now I am in a dilemma. What can I say to them? My country, Ireland, is carrying a bad name. It is time to determine who is responsible for creating this environment of fear. The teens who are usually involved in such incidents get away because they are young. This does not excuse them, as they cause life-altering damage to a person's life. This affects at least five more lives who are dependent on them. How can the law be oblivious of the damage done to families on the excuse of the perpetrator being young? If there is any politics in it, the individuals need to be singled out and made to pay a price. In the US, the parents of such criminals are being punished for the damage their children do. Can that not be followed in Ireland? And how about treating such criminals as adults in Irish courts? Pradeep K Chadha, Castleknock, Dublin 15 Would ending Triple Lock mean Ireland was free to intervene in Palestine? Assuming the Triple Lock on our neutrality is eventually lifted, can we expect the Irish Government to send troops on humanitarian duties to ensure food gets into Gaza and people are protected? I mean, we would be free of the UN mandate and seeking its approval. Or would we require US-, UK- and EU-supporting Israel's approval to do the above? John Cuffe, Co Meath Who will pay to rebuild Gaza after the conflict is finally brought to an end? A recent commentator rightly underlines that 'recognition alone cannot substitute for immediate, concrete action that includes a ceasefire, unimpeded humanitarian access and accountability for atrocities'. ADVERTISEMENT This is the very minimum series of actions necessary to go towards the rebalancing of the appalling man-made humanitarian tragedy imposed on the Palestinian people by the state of Israel. But so much more needs to be done, inter alia – the imposition of sanctions on Israeli ministers, military personnel and officials responsible for war crimes; employment of all international mechanisms to bring the culprits to justice; and the ending of all preferential trade and service arrangements for Israel under the EU-Israel Association Agreement. Finally, and crucially, to date I have heard no mention of war reparations for the deaths, destruction and dispossession suffered by the Palestinians. Who will have the courage to demand these compensations from Israel? Or will it be the EU, in the wake of its pathetic political inaction throughout the last two years, that will transfer vast sums of money for the rebuilding of Gaza, in an effort to salve its conscience and regain whatever little moral authority remains? Tom McGrath, Ashford, Co Wicklow Pope Leo has a chance to send a powerful message by visiting Middle East The Catholic Church has an opportunity to make a positive impact on the dire situation in Gaza. Shortly after his election, the late Pope Francis visited the island of Lampedusa and highlighted the indifference to migrants and asylum- seekers . A visit to Gaza by Pope Leo would have an equal impact on the dire situation of the Palestinian people as they die from bullets and starvation. Even if he got as far as the Rafah crossing, it would send out a powerful message to the people of Gaza that religion has no borders. Brendan Butler, Drumcondra, Dublin Pharma tariffs are a risk to Ireland, but it's consumers in US who will suffer most US president Donald Trump has announced that pharmaceutical tariffs could eventually reach up to 250pc. He referenced Ireland's strength in the pharmaceuticals sector in an interview on Tuesday. It seems Trump doesn't give a hoot about the ordinary American person as he considers such an extortionate tariff. Medical care in America is already outrageously expensive, and when you throw a possible 250pc on pharmaceuticals, the collateral damage of such a punitive tax will be felt by everyone. This latest threat certainly raises big questions for Ireland. It's reported that a deal between the EU and the US is getting closer. One is curious as to what the terms of such a deal will be. The pharmaceuticals and medtech sectors collectively employ over 70,000 people within the Industrial Development Agency (IDA) network. This includes both direct employment in manufacturing and indirect roles associated with the industry. The sector is a significant contributor to Ireland's economy, with pharmaceutical exports representing 39pc of the total. John O'Brien, Clonmel, Co Tipperary Thanks to my teacher for always encouraging his students to 'speak proper' On Pat Kenny's radio show last Monday, there was an item on the widespread misuse of grammar these days. For example: 'He was sat there.' I was lucky that in primary school we had a teacher who constantly reminded us of the importance of (as Gay Byrne used to preach) speaking proper. Mind you, as youngsters sat there, it would be years later when I would appreciate that teacher's dedication. A very belated thank you, sir. Tom Gilsenan, Beaumont, Dublin 9 All-Ireland final shows how Jim Gavin's changes have revitalised the game It was a pleasure to watch the recent All-Ireland football final contested by players displaying all the skills of the game. Thanks to Jim Gavin and all concerned for getting rid of the 'puke football' introduced way back in 2003 by Tyrone, and progressed to a more dreary and boring game by Donegal in 2012. Long may the game continue to progress with its skills of high fielding and long-range points from play.
Irish Independent
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Letters: Let's not simplify Ireland's solidarity with the people suffering in Palestine
While our past occupation fosters empathy for those facing injustice, this narrative oversimplifies the profound moral conviction driving our support. The Irish people stand with Palestine not due to historical parallels but because the continuing genocide is wrong. The images of devastation in Gaza – starving children buried under rubble, entire families destroyed and communities obliterated – should shock the conscience of any decent person, regardless of politics or views on Israel. Ireland, and any nation that values human rights, cannot remain silent in the face of these atrocities. The deliberate and pernicious targeting of civilians, aid workers and journalists, the destruction of hospitals and the total blockade of basic necessities like food, water and medicines do not speak to historical parallels. They are present-day abominations that demand condemnation. Our stance is rooted in a rejection of inhumanity. Irish support for Palestine transcends political or historical analogies. It is a visceral response to the daily slaughter and starvation of innocent children. Overwhelming Irish public support for the Palestinian right to freedom and safety rises not out of some romanticised view of shared struggle, but because people here recognise the moral imperative to oppose war crimes and evil tyrants. Ireland's history may provide context, but it is not the sole lens. To reduce Ireland's position to a simplistic colonial comparison dismisses the depth of our sentiment that the mass murder in Palestine is simply wrong. Ireland's solidarity reflects this truth. Our stand is grounded in human decency, not history. Mark Moran, Stillorgan, Dublin Government should get off the fence and recall ambassador from Israel Can I appeal to our government to get off the American-Israeli fence? ADVERTISEMENT We have recognised Palestine as a state. That state is now under siege. I believe a genocide is taking place. A forced famine is now happening and the Israelis are about to plough through the whole strip. Are we so afraid of American might that we have lost our ability to call out this abomination? Have we forgotten we are a nation that was starved in the Famine? Its devastation saw our population halve and our native language almost die out. We won't stop what America and Israel wish to achieve, but when history is thumbed through in 100 years we will have been seen to have stood for the good. Bring home our ambassador from Israel. John Cuffe, Co Meath We should remember with pride the Irish men and women of World War II Frank Coughlan's article ('Ireland isn't invited to the VE Day 80th anniversary celebrations, but the losses we suffered should never be forgotten', Irish Independent, May 1) is a welcome reminder of the Irish who served and those who died in those dark days. It is important to remember the significant wartime contributions made by citizens of 'neutral' Ireland. My mother's 24-year-old cousin died in the near destruction of the vital oil convoy TM1 in January 1943 while en route from Trinidad to support the invasion of North Africa. His ship, the SS Empire Lytton, was among seven of the convoy's nine tankers that were sunk in controversial circumstances by a U-boat wolf pack. In my research, I was in touch with the son of one of the tanker's officers who survived. He was astonished to learn about the number of people from Ireland who enlisted in the British forces, as identified by Mr Coughlan (66,000 from the Republic and 64,000 from Northern Ireland). I suspect these figures may exclude the hundreds of Irish sailors who manned British merchant ships during the Battle of the Atlantic. Of the 11 sailors who died from the SS Empire Lytton, six were from Ireland – four from 'Éire', including a 19-year-old from Galway and a 17-year-old from Dublin, and two from Northern Ireland. My mother's cousin was previously rescued twice. I obtained crew lists from all the ships he served on before his horrific death. In almost every case there were sailors from both parts of this island among the crews. Nor should the quarter of a million men and women who went to work in essential jobs in Britain during the war years be forgotten. I reckon that in many Irish homes there will be photos of young men and women, soldiers, sailors, airmen, nurses and others who will be remembered when the VE Day commemorations play out on television and radio this week. I hope they will be remembered with pride. James Larkin, Dublin 18 Last thing country needs is more bureaucracy with appointment of new tsar The appointment of a so-called tsar and staff to fix the housing crisis smacks of gimmickry. We don't need any more bureaucracy. The housing shortage has been analysed to death. We need boots on the ground, more developers and tradesmen, and less red tape. When the financial crash of 2008 hit, many developers in Ireland were depicted as greedy an irresponsible. Many left the business, never to return. Thousands of tradesmen emigrated. The presence of ghost estates around the country left the impression there was a surplus of houses for several years into the future. Demographic change is constant. We elect politicians who in turn appoint advisers to track such changes and not make assumptions that the housing need was sorted. In a decade and a half we have gone from a surplus of houses to a chronic shortage. Somebody was asleep at the wheel in failing to grasp that everything is cyclical. Nothing stands still. In order to bring developers back, they must be treated with respect. Housing development involves a lot of volatility, from inflation in material costs to regulatory delays. Builders will start building again, but only if they are treated with fairness. Joseph Kiely, Letterkenny, Co Donegal Cardinals had better think carefully before choosing a pope from outside US The conclave in Rome had better be careful. If the next pope elected by them is from outside the US, Trump might well impose harsh tariffs on the church.
