UK ruling on biological sex
Sir, – The decision of the UK supreme court regarding biological sex and the rights of transgender women reminded me of our own history.
The Irish Supreme Court, in 1983, upheld laws criminalising homosexuality. In 1993, homosexuality was decriminalised.
In 2015, same-sex marriage was legalised in this country by enormous public vote. Sometimes the law takes a while to catch up. – Yours, etc,
BERNIE LINNANE,
‘I’m deeply unhappy but I think leaving my husband will destroy him’
New Irish albums reviewed and rated: Paddy Hanna, Lullahush, Cushla, Maria Somerville and Danny Groenland
Fintan O’Toole: State has reached crisis of irresponsibility that resonates far beyond Grace’s grim story
Power struggles, resignations and Conor McGregor’s toxicity: The fracturing of Ireland’s far right
Dromahair,
Co Leitrim.
Easter message from the unions
Sir, – When I was a child Easter meant sacred rituals – Stations of the Cross, Easter Sunday Mass, the Paschal candle. Today, it is also marked by another tradition: the annual Easter union conferences held in hotel ballrooms across the country.
These events, once niche, are now fixtures of the national conversation. They draw ministers, journalists, and frontline professionals – and they give a revealing snapshot of the state of the nation.
This year’s snapshot is striking. In advance of the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland (ASTI) conference, it said there was a severe teacher shortage. “How can you be a teacher in Dublin at the moment with the housing and accommodation crisis?”
At the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) conference, concerns coming from within An Garda Síochána were stark. AGSI president Declan Higgins warned that lowering entry standards to boost recruitment was “dangerous ... a short-sighted attempt to put warm bodies into uniform instead of creating an organisation that people want to join and stay in”.
Sgt Paul Forrestal said the force could lose “30 to 50 per cent of our organisation in five years”, with numbers potentially dropping below 13,000 in the near future.
In response, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris offered a counterpoint: while acknowledging recruitment pauses during Covid-19, he stated the force has “now turned the corner” with the largest number of Garda trainees in six years recently joining Templemore.
Conflicting signals indeed. One side sees a turning point; the other sees a crisis worsening. What is clear, however, is that these problems are deeply rooted and shared across sectors.
The nurses’ Easter conference has yet to take place, but if recent history is any guide its message will be no different.
All roads lead back to one issue: affordable housing for key workers, particularly in Dublin. This is not a subsection of the wider housing crisis – it is a separate emergency. If gardaí, teachers, and nurses cannot afford to live in the capital, Dublin’s social and economic viability is in real jeopardy.
The solution must be targeted, ambitious, and, above all, immediate. Piecemeal measures and long-range plans will not stem the tide. We need action now. – Yours, etc,
PASCHAL TAGGART,
Rathgar,
Dublin 6.
Response to Grace Report
Sir, – The response of some politicians to the Grace report was not surprising, but it was disappointing.
Shortly after the report was published, expressions of annoyance and disappointment were coming from Leinster House. I have no doubt that those same politicians had not read the report or studied it in any detail before making those comments. Getting something out for the next news cycle seemed to be the priority.
It is understandable that some TDs, particularly those closely involved in the matter, will be frustrated.
But the onus is now on them and others to respond seriously. Let them read the report in full, review the evidence available to the commission and then point out specific instances where the commission could have, or should have, reached different conclusions.
That requires serious and detailed work. And I’m afraid that I, for one, will not be holding my breath. – Yours, etc,
BRIAN KENNY,
Dartry,
Dublin 6.
Praise for Scéal
A chara, – Míle comhghairdeas as Scéal a fhoilsiú. Is fada sinn ag fanacht lena leithéid, agus más mall, is mithid. Leanaigí oraibh leis an dea-obair!
Beir beannacht.- Is mise
Dr SEÁN Ó RIAIN,
Parentis-en-Born,
France.
Ireland’s right to roam
Sir, – As a young student in UCD in 1970, I got a summer job in a paper mill in Sweden. There I learned of “allemansratten”, a Swedish law that enshrines the right of all citizens to roam all land freely, coupled with the responsibility to respect the property of others, respect animals, close gates, do no damage, leave no rubbish, etc.
Why not in Ireland? – Yours, etc,
VINCENT MURPHY,
Douglas Road,
Cork.
State policy on wind energy
Sir, – Eamon Ryan, in his opinion piece “The antidote to Trump’s tariff chaos is a clean and green trade agreement” (Opinion, April 15th) imagines that somehow “Ireland could propose a clean and green trade agreement on the international stage”. We don’t think so, because leading by example would be required. One only has to examine the Republic’s chaotic approach to wind energy.
We happen to live beside the private wind farm (in operation since 1998) shown in the photograph accompanying Mr Ryan’s article. A turbine in this wind farm which was only 25 metres from a public road collapsed this year. Neither Galway County Council nor national Government have explained to us who is responsible for assessing the structural safety of end-of-life wind turbines and the implications for public safety.
For years, public servants, politicians and the wind energy industry worked on the Draft 2019 Wind Energy Guidelines. Dáil Éireann failed to adopt them. Consequently the 2006 Wind Energy Guidelines remain in force despite the huge increase in turbine sizes and the resultant challenges posed to local communities. Without up-to-date guidelines key issues such as scale, setback distances from houses or public roads and the noise and shadow-flicker generated by wind farms have been left to fester.
We call on the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to address the urgent issue of wind energy guidelines in consultation with rural communities and to explain who is responsible for assessing the structural integrity and safety of end-of-life wind turbines. We also call on the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to explain who is responsible for assessing the safety of wind turbines in relation to wind-farm workers. – Yours, etc,
SEÁN Ó HAODHA,
GEMMA BREATHNACH,
BARRY Ó COISDEALBHA,
CIARÁN Ó COFAIGH,
ALEC COSTELLO,
EILEEN COSTELLO,
PADRAIG COSTELLO,
RUAIRI COSTELLO,
EITHNE NIC EINRÍ,
KATE NÍ FHLATHARTA,
MÁIRÍN MHIC LOCHLAINN,
SIOBHÁN PHINNEY,
BRIDIE REANEY,
BERNIE UÍ THUATHAIL,
CHRISTY Ó TUATHAIL,
Indreabhán,
Conamara,
Co na Gaillimhe
In praise of Dublin Bus
Sir, – Following on from Sorcha Pollak’s positive article about Dublin Bus (“Dublin Bus diversity recruitment drive gathers pace despite antisocial behaviour”, News, April 16th) we would like to praise the Dublin Bus independent travel scheme, and especially Dublin bus employees Philip and Roger, who assisted young Colm Doherty who has Down syndrome. They coached him and, little by little, step by step, gave him the wonderful self-confidence to travel by himself on the bus to Dún Laoghaire and on the Dart to Blackrock. – Yours, etc,
MICHAEL and CLIONA DOHERTY,
Sandymount,
Dublin 4.
The phrase ‘took out’
Sir, – In response to Frank McNally’s plea for other Irish Times readers to reassure him about the phrase “took out” (An Irishman’s Diary, Comment & Letters, April 17th), I would like to offer my reassurance that “took out” is indeed a “recognised phrase” – at least by those of us originally from the Carrickmacross area.
My understanding of the phrase is where someone’s actions or behaviour would produce a “raised eyebrow” reaction, not in a totally negative way but a more bemused, mildly critical reaction to an overdone act or performance. Frank’s descriptive use of the phrase was spot on in my opinion. – Yours, etc,
MARIANNE LYNCH,
Letterkenny,
Co Donegal.
Sir, – Regarding Frank McNally’s entertaining piece, an outstanding other interpretation of this word was Margaret Thatcher’s “out, out, out” in relation to the Northern Ireland peace process.
The jury was out on her decision. – Yours, etc,
BRIAN MC KENNA,
Howth Road,
Dublin 5.
Sir, – Responding to Frank McNally’s invitation to share usages of the little word “out”, I grew up in a place in “sios amach” where we had double outs: “an out and out ejit”, “out and out magic”, “out and out unreal”, “out and out freezing”. Basically, it was used to describe anything extreme. – Yours, etc,
PATRICK HOWLIN,
Milltown,
Dublin.
Sir, – Frank McNally muses over the saying “took out” when used to describe a performance that was remarkable. When I was young, the only thing that we took out regularly was the bin.
Perhaps it was a mishearing of the phrase “stood out” that caused the confusion. Stood out, as in outstanding.
I remember being at a meeting once where a chap, describing a failed attempt, said it was a “damp squid”. This resulted in one or two raised eyebrows and a couple of barely suppressed titters.
No one had the will to correct him. Maybe we just didn’t wish to upset the apple tart. – Yours, etc,
BOBBY CARTY,
Templeogue,
Dublin.
Orbán and the far right
Sir, – I read with interest your editorial “The Irish Times view on Hungary: Orbán panders to the far-right” (Comment & Letters, April 16th). I am an Irish citizen, and with my dual nationality family, currently resident in Budapest.
While your analysis that Orbán’s crusade against our LGBTQIA+ friends is motivated by electoral concerns is on point, I would dispute the statement that he in any way “panders to the far right”.
Viktor Orbán is the far right. He panders to no person or no nebulous ideology. He has been, long before the rise of Trumpism in the 2010s, epitomising fascism. Playing the strongman, censoring the media, atomising society and gerrymandering the electoral process to all but guarantee his continued power. Nothing he does is in service of anyone but himself.
There are signs the Hungarian people have had enough. I can only hope. – Yours, etc,
Dr ÚNA DELI,
Budapest,
Hungary.
