A chara, - Your edition of June 13th quotes the Fianna Fáil Dublin South-West TD Charlie O'Connor supporting antisocial behaviour orders because a great many people in his constituency had been targeted by "thugs intent on making their lives a misery".
Given the horrific neglect of Tallaght and its hinterland by his party for decades, we might recognise the true thugs as those in suits, not hoodies.
Amid the recent reactionary and regressive spin-doctoring regarding antisocial behaviour, bringing with it the typical demonisation of youth from the conservative establishment, there has been little mention of the antisocial impact of many politicians and planners over decades on working-class communities across the country.
Let us not forget that their failures have helped to create the kinds of excluded communities in which antisocial behaviour is allowed to triumph. - Is mise,
DERMOT LOONEY, St Columba's Road, Greenhills, Dublin 12.
Madam, - I am very heartened to hear that Michael McDowell has "decided to be more radical and go for a much more comprehensive approach" in relation to the café-bars issue. I hope now that the Minister will do likewise in relation to Asbos.
Antisocial behaviour is a problem in Ireland and, yes, we need to deal with this. We need to put in place a range of supports and early intervention measures constructively and effectively.
Implementing the Children Act 2001 is the best way forward. The Act is there. It just needs to be funded properly. This is an Act that looks at the issue of behaviour and misbehaviour in a holistic and community-based way. The teenage years are among the most challenging and vulnerable for young people. Stigma and low self-esteem can determine a young person's life chances and opportunity.
We spend too much of our time on "afterthought" solutions. It costs €250,000 to detain a child for a year in Oberstown or Trinity House. Where are our priorities? What is our focus? Where is our humanity? The Children Act 2001 is there. Just implement it! - Yours, etc,
VALERIE DUFFY, Shankill, Co Dublin.
Madam, - Should the Union of Students in Ireland not choose to focus its energy on issues related to students rather than organising protests against Asbos without having consulted its members on the issue?
The position being put forward by the USI national council is unrepresentative of the views of many students, who see the Minister's proposal as a useful means of tackling yob behaviour. - Yours, etc,
CONAL CAMPBELL, Trinity College, Dublin 2.
Madam, - I agree wholeheartedly with Eoin Kelleher when he talks about the demonisation of young people in his fine article about " teenophobia" (Life Features, June 7th). How can teenagers be expected to have respect for others when they themselves are treated with such contempt? How can they become anything but cynical when the society that targets them so relentlessly to buy hoodies then makes it a crime to wear them? How will they hold on to the idealism that is such a positive feature of adolescence, when all they see around them is hypocrisy?
The proposed introduction of Asbos makes them even more vulnerable to the possibility of prejudice, scapegoating, or misconduct by our law-enforcement officials - some of whom, in the light of the Morris tribunal report, have shown themselves at best only marginally to be trusted.
The Government ought to be doing its utmost to provide proper facilities for young people - skate parks, properly run youth clubs, music venues other than pubs - so that they don't have to hang around shopping centres to be harassed and hounded at every turn just because they're an easy target. - Yours, etc,
LORRAINE DOCKERY, Athlone, Co Westmeath.