Sir, – Pat Leahy raises the real possibility that an acceptable agreement over the issue which gave rise to the crippling of the Dáil on Wednesday “might not be possible at all” (“Micheál Martin finally appoints his new Cabinet amid temporary Dáil ceasefire”, News, January 24th). It seems incredible that the disorientated rump of the Regional Independent Group (RIG) might not give way on this matter. Perhaps, taking a cue from certain sports clubs, this small group of TDs should be offered associate membership of Government. To further enhance their identity, they could adopt the title Regional Associate Group (RAG).
As such, they might prove to be a useful adjunct to Government, not least in that its members would be ideally placed to mop up any leaks which might flow from their ministerial colleagues. – Yours, etc,
EAMON SHEPPARD,
Shankill,
Value dining deals around Dublin to lift those January blues
How can I see the rare alignment of six planets above Ireland on Saturday?
Storm Éowyn triggered a sense of pandemic PTSD - especially for parents of primary pupils
His leer was so filthy it would have you reaching for hand sanitiser. A man over 40. A man who knew so, so much better
Dublin 18.
Sir, – If Fianna Fáil are the foundations of the House, Fine Gael the walls, Michael Lowry the extension (of course), the rest of the Regional Independent Group the back garden, and the Healy-Raes the roof (capped and all), our new housing targets are as far away as ever. – Yours, etc,
HUGH McDONNELL,
Dublin 9.
A chara, – The new Government has been on the receiving end of criticism for the small number of women who have been appointed to Cabinet positions. A quote from Stephen Collins’s article “Scenes of chaos and bullying in Dáil will have done nothing for the reputation of politicians” (Opinion & Analysis, January 24th) perhaps goes some way to explaining this anomaly and the attitudes of those in power.
In relation to Verona Murphy’s performance as Ceann Comhairle on Wednesday, he reports that a senior observer on the Government side stated, “it wouldn’t have happened like that if Seán Ó Fearghaíl or Seán Barrett were in the chair”. – Is mise,
JOHN KELLY,
Bennekerry,
Co Carlow.
Sir, – Media commentators and Opposition TDs have been vocal since the new Ministers were appointed, the issue being the number of women in the Cabinet.
I will not be losing sleep over this. I am against gender quotas and believe promotion should be on merit.
If this letter is published, I hope it won’t upset the National Women’s Council of Ireland.
The NWCI claims to represent all women. It doesn’t represent me. – Yours, etc,
ENID O’DOWD,
Ranelagh,
Dublin 6.
Sir, – Singapore’s parliament has 98 elected representatives for 5.5 million population.
New Zealand has 122 elected representatives for a population of 5.2 million. Ireland has 174 TDs for 5.2 million population. Our Dáil sits for few days in the year.
No wonder there is a row here about available speaking time. – Yours, etc,
ROGER FLACK,
Currabinny,
Co Cork.
Sir, – Judging by the screaming and shouting in the Dáil on Wednesday, it is obvious there is a very poor sound system in the building.
If a system could be installed with individual speakers, the sound could be controlled better.
A centre console could have knobs marked bass, treble, volume control, on, off, and so on.
Right now I’m getting very poor sound quality on my tape machine and keep having to rewind with my pencil. – Yours, etc,
KEN BUGGY,
Ballyduff Upper,
Co Waterford.
Sir, – The words of Otto von Bismarck come to mind: “Politics is the art of the possible, the attainable – the art of the next best.” It was certainly put to the test in Dáil Éireann this week. – Yours, etc,
EDITH WYNNE,
Dublin 6W.
Sir, – The pantomime carry-on in the Dáil last Wednesday calls into question the bona fides of the body politic when it comes to the serious business of running the country. Government formation has taken over two months post-election and is already enmeshed in the consequences of a tawdry deal while the Opposition has seemed more concerned with disruption and point-scoring rather than orderly conduct.
At a time when the country faces multiple challenges both externally and internally, it behoves our elected representatives to take their well-paid positions seriously instead of play-acting. – Yours, etc,
MICHAEL FLYNN,
Bayside,
Dublin 13.
Storm Éowyn
Sir, – Traditionally, some Irish parents would long for one of their children to become a priest, a nun or a doctor. After last night’s storm, I’d happily take a roofer. – Yours, etc,
DAVID CURRAN,
Knocknacarra,
Galway.
Sir, – Well done, Met Éireann. Storm Éowyn arrived on time and as ferocious as predicted here in Donegal. – Yours, etc,
JOHN O’CONNELL,
Letterkenny,
Co Donegal.
Sir, – I am one of your subscribers to The Irish Times home delivery service. At precisely 5.36pm on Thursday, I received a text from you stating that, due to the upcoming storm, you may have difficulty in delivering the following day’s edition of The Irish Times. This was totally understandable and fully accepted. At exactly 12.15am on the following morning, Friday’s edition of your paper came through my letterbox.
Well done to all concerned! – Yours, etc,
STEPHANIE LOUGHMAN,
Malahide,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – Panic-buying of bread? The yeast of our worries. – Yours, etc,
LAURA O’MARA,
Stillorgan,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – Scientists tell us there’s a status red wind warning for one day and people stock up on sliced pans.
Scientists tell us we’re facing planetary catastrophe if we continue to burn fossil fuels, and people elect Donald Trump, who promises to “Drill, baby, drill!” as leader of the free world.
Go figure. – Yours, etc,
ROB SADLIER,
Dublin 16.
Sir, – Abandoning the paper copy of The Irish Times is an option but the online version is hopeless at drying out wet mountain boots. – Yours, etc,
GERRY CHRISTIE,
Tralee,
Co Kerry.
Anti-social behaviour
Sir, – I welcome the letter by Andrew Quinn (January 23rd) regarding the high level of tolerance for what is often described as “low-level” anti-social behaviour.
It is an issue I have been raising at Dublin City Council and other forums for a long time. Anyone who is an active public representative knows the huge damage one individual or group of individuals can do to the quality of lives of many people. In my experience, that damage is understood by the Garda Síochána but not by those in the Department of Justice or in the courts.
In the past, the Joint Policing Committees, comprising gardaí, businesses and residents, council officials, Oireachtas members and councillors, were a useful way of addressing these issues. Disgracefully, and without a peep from the media, these Joint Policing Committees were abolished by the last government to be replaced by Civil Service-controlled Community Safety Forums.
The new Minister for Justice should revoke those controlling powers and restore to the new Community Safety Forums the right to determine their own agenda and chairpersons.
Those who understand the impact of anti-social behaviour are better placed to tackle it than those who protect and defend the establishment, very often against the needs and interests of the law-abiding citizens. – Yours, etc,
Cllr DERMOT LACEY,
(Labour),
Donnybrook,
Dublin 4.
Private schools and pet farms
A chara, – The news that a Dublin fee-paying school introduced alpacas to its grounds, despite warnings about the risk of tuberculosis, raises serious questions about animal welfare (“TB found in alpaca at private south Dublin school’s farm, postmortem shows”, News, January 24th).
It also raises serious questions about priorities in private education for those who support public subsidies to such schools.
The State is trying to ensure no child goes hungry through the hot school meals programme. At the same time, a private school is using resources to maintain a petting farm with high-risk animals. This is as an extravagance of absolutely absurd levels.
This episode highlights the inequity of diverting taxpayer money to fee-paying schools. When families in underfunded schools are fighting for basic resources, such as food for their children, how can we justify State subsidies that, in some cases, are underwriting alpaca projects? – Yours, etc,
REAMONN O’LUAN,
Dublin 14.
Investing in defence
Sir, – John FitzGerald is entirely right (“State needs to invest in Navy and Air Corps to beef up our ability to protect vital undersea connections”, Business, Opinion, January 24th) to say that the Republic must greatly increase its spending on the Naval Service and Air Corps if it is to have any hope of securing the nation’s vital undersea connections in time of war. But he is wrong to dismiss Ireland’s joining Nato as (apparently) too expensive.
Are we part of Europe or not? And if we are – especially at a time when the mood of America under Donald Trump has shifted in favour of isolationism – then it is clear that we must play our part in its defences.
We don’t have a navy; we have a couple of small, virtually unarmed ships. And we don’t have an air force worthy of the name. All we have is an Army that we traditionally put at the disposal of the UN, unless and until we feel it is getting in harm’s way.
Ireland is a rich country – or so they keep telling us – and we owe almost all of our current prosperity to our membership of the EU.
It’s time for the new Government to nail its colours to the mast.
But I won’t be holding my breath. – Yours, etc,
WALTER ELLIS,
Plusquellec,
France.
Trump and Ireland
Sir, – The claim by Bobby McDonagh that Donald Trump “poses a real threat to most of the values that matter to this country” is delusional (Opinion & Analysis, January 23rd).
There is no set of common values in this country.
The divide between the media, political, and university elites and ordinary voters when it comes to transgender ideology, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policy, and immigration is as great in this country as it is in the US.
To very many in this country, myself included, and Europe more generally, Mr Trump represents common sense and hope. – Yours, etc,
Dr DAVID WOODS,
Department of Classics,
University College Cork,
Cork.
Trump’s pardons
Sir, – Further to “The Irish Times view on Trump’s pardons: undermining the rule of law” (January 24th), how can the rule of law be undermined when President Trump is clearly exercising his executive pardon powers under the law? The mass pardon of the January 6th rioters was in line with the American constitution and presidential precedents. As an example, on his first day in office, President Carter pardoned tens of thousands of people who dodged the Vietnam War draft. Indeed it must be noted that our Constitution vests a similar power of pardon and commutation in our own President Higgins, on the advice of the Government.
Is it the now case that decisions or laws that do not meet the approval of The Irish Times undermine the rule of law? Perhaps The Irish Times could define the rule of law for the benefit of its readers. – Yours, etc,
JOSEPH KEOGH
Malahide,
Co Dublin.
Trade offensive
Sir – Consequent to “New Taoiseach pledging a diplomatic trade offensive with Trump’s America” (News, January 24th), one would be forgiven for assuming President Trump will be washing his hair on March 17th. – Yours, etc,
ROY HOLMES,
Dublin 6.
