Israeli war bonds
Sir, – There has been much discussion about the upcoming renewal of Israeli war bonds by the Central Bank, on September 2nd, with a large cry to block them.
In recent weeks the Israeli regime has ratcheted up its actions in Gaza, deliberately targeting civilians, journalists and medics. The proposed forced expulsion of civilians from Gaza city provides further evidence of Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s malevolence.
How can the EU and the Irish Government allow the renewal of these bonds under these circumstances? It is depressing how much EU and UK leadership has lost its moral compass when it comes to direct action against the Israeli regime. Now is the time for a real response, and where it hurts. Stop the renewal of the bonds and enact the Occupied Territories Bill. – Yours, etc,
BARRY WALSH,
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Blackrock,
Cork.
SUV taxation debate
Sir, – Michael McAleer doth protest too much (“Should new SUVs be subject to an extra tax”, Opinion, August 26th). By targeting An Garda Síochána, and cherry-picking statistics he ignores the reality that SUVs are a significant part of the climate problem. He also implies that conventional cars may not cater for the needs of the mid-size Irish family.
The Central Statistics Office states the average Irish household size was 2.74 people in 2022 and has been falling steadily for decades but, hey, seven seats anyone?
The International Energy Agency tells us that SUVs are setting new sales records each year – and so are their emissions. It says that these large, heavy passenger vehicles were responsible for more than 20 per cent of the growth in global energy-related CO2 emissions last year. No taxation instrument is perfect, but it seems logical that we should incentivise means of travel that are kinder to the planet and discourage those that inflict the greatest damage.
As EU-US trade pact negotiators agreed last week that they “intend to accept and provide mutual recognition to each other’s standards” for cars, the prospect of American super-sized SUV imports looms large. It is time to ensure our communities are not subjected to further damage by excessively-sized vehicles. – Yours, etc,
CIARÁN CUFFE,
Green Party,
Phibsborough,
Dublin 7.
Sir, – The SUV taxation debate illustrates how our climate action plans risk being tripped up by our love affair with the car.
Reducing daily car journeys is core to Ireland’s climate strategy and large progress has been made in providing infrastructure for public transport, walking and cycling.
However, the deep roots of our car dependency are apparent whenever taxation, road tolls or increased parking charges are proposed as a way of encouraging alternative modes of transport.
Ireland has great ambitions to transform transportation but, with some exceptions, we have shied away from potentially unpopular measures that could help prompt wider behavioural change.
Initial scepticism about congestion charges in London and New York, or emissions-based parking increases in many cities including Paris, has been replaced by widespread support once cars were taken off streets.
Ireland is no different: we shouldn’t fear raising taxes on more polluting cars, or increasing road-user charges or parking charges in areas where motorists have sustainable transport alternatives. Any such measures will ultimately benefit all society as well as future generations. – Yours, etc,
ALAN DUNNE,
Swords,
Co Dublin.
Ireland’s sovereignty
Sir, – The Peace and Neutrality Alliance (PANA) rejects recent comments made by Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill regarding Irish sovereignty being somehow contained by the triple lock (“Michael Collins’s legacy honoured by sending Irish troops on peacekeeping missions, says Carroll MacNeill,” News, August 24th).
The triple lock does indeed require that Irish troop deployments have a United Nations mandate, but Article 25 of the United Nations Charter requires us as a member state to adhere to decisions of the UN Security Council and respect their binding nature in any event. Why is the Minister not advocating departure from the UN?
The triple lock is an exercise in sovereignty and, in particular, popular sovereignty. It is the Irish people who, in two referendums in 2002 and 2009, endorsed the triple lock. Unlike Britain, in Ireland sovereignty resides in the people not parliament. – Yours, etc,
STEPHEN KELLY,
Chairman, Peace and Neutrality Alliance,
Glenageary,
Co Dublin.
Balance or bias
Sir, – Every article your newspaper publishes on the genocide in Gaza ends with a reminder of the atrocity of October 7th, 2023. This is, no doubt, included in the interest of balance. It is also repeatedly stated that the “war began on October 7th, 2023”. This displays a bias to the Israeli narrative. From the Palestinian perspective the war has been going on for 100 years, as recounted by historian Rashid Khalidi. – Yours, etc,
TOMAS McBRIDE,
Letterkenny,
Co Donegal.
Danger on the roads
Sir, – I have been doing the short commute from my home to Dublin city by bike and car (and sometimes by public transport) for more than 25 years. I try to cycle more than I drive but – despite more cycle lanes – it has become increasingly dangerous on the roads as a cyclist.
Please can we prioritise a better Garda traffic presence on the roads in the mornings. Fifteen years ago nobody would have thought of reading a book, working or watching TV while driving yet they do this on their phones now, while in traffic.
I am also fully aware of those who cycle and don’t obey the rules of the road.
An increased Garda presence at commuting times would also assist in rectifying this. – Yours, etc,
SÍOBHRA RUSH,
Churchtown,
Dublin 14.
Moral failures of our time
Sir, – I’m sure I am not alone in my sense of despair and upset when listening to more and more news of war with attacks on innocent civilians, including shootings when queuing for food, and mass starvation as a result of food not being allowed in. It is unbearable to see babies and young children being maimed and starving to death.
Present events are unbearable to watch. It is hard to believe so many world leaders are devoid of any empathy towards their fellow human beings and think only of power and domination.
It is harder to believe that they are able to get away with it while the rest of the world can only look on.
History has shown us many atrocities but it looks as if we have not evolved into civilised people. The world can be a beautiful place and it would be wonderful if we could claim it back and have peace. – Yours, etc,
MARIE BROPHY,
Castleknock,
Dublin 15.
Sir, – Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump and Binyamin Netanyahu can no longer be described as ordinary leaders or statesmen. Their actions mark them as something darker and yet the world continues to treat them as legitimate players on the stage of international affairs.
This normalisation is itself a profound moral failure.
As we watch atrocities unfold in Gaza and Ukraine, we cannot claim ignorance. Unlike past generations who could plead they “did not know”, we are saturated with real-time images, testimonies and evidence. Every strike, every massacre, every act of dehumanisation is broadcast into our palms.
The question is not whether these leaders will be condemned by future generations – they will. The question is whether the rest of us will be condemned alongside them for our silence, our equivocation and our failure to act. We have no excuse. – Yours, etc,
OLAF SORENSEN,
Kinsale,
Co Cork.
Falling tourism numbers
Sir, – Your report on tourism ignores two glaringly obvious causes of the reported drop in numbers (“Tourism slump continues with July data pointing to further fall-off in visitors”, Business, August 27th).
Firstly, the Dublin Airport passenger cap. If there are statutory limits on the numbers of inbound passengers to the airport that facilitates 80 per cent of all tourist traffic to the State, how can we expect to grow tourist numbers?
Secondly, high prices in the catering and leisure industry are clearly becoming prohibitive to many tourists, including domestic visitors.
Surely questions should be asked as to why these two controllable issues have not been addressed by this Government or previous governments? – Yours, etc,
MICHAEL FEHILY,
Celbridge,
Co Kildare.
Herbert Road decision
Sir, – The decision to reverse the proposed closure of the Herbert Road junction on the N11 in Bray, following strong public opposition and political intervention, highlights both the responsiveness of the authorities and the inconsistency of how such schemes are being treated.
Wicklow County Council, supported by the Tánaiste, accepted that the original plan was unworkable and committed to keeping the exit open. This was the right outcome and a testament to effective community action.
But the question arises: why should one community, in the constituency of a senior Minister, be able to secure big revisions after statutory approval, while others are told the time for change has passed?
Bus corridors such as Rathfarnham to the city centre contain proposals widely regarded as deeply flawed, yet residents there are expected to accept them as final.
Is it equitable that some communities benefit from late-stage flexibility while others do not? The Herbert Road campaign shows people power can change outcomes.
The issue now is whether that principle will be applied fairly across all corridors or reserved for those with greater political leverage. – Yours, etc.
PETER LYNCH,
Terenure,
Dublin 6W.
Problematic presidential oath
Sir, – I agree with David Lyons about the presidential oath (Letters, August 27th).
However, the requirements of Article 12.8 do not affect merely “one small group” .
Almost three quarters of a million people were recorded as having atheist, humanist or no religious beliefs in the last census. Conscientious atheists and humanists cannot aspire to the office of the president of Ireland because, if successful, his or her first public act would be a denial of their basic beliefs.
The relevant provisions of the Constitution, along with similar requirements for judges, are reminiscent of the notorious Test Acts. In the 18th century this legislation required aspirants, before taking up public office, to take an oath renouncing Catholic doctrines. In so far as it applied to Ireland the act was repealed in 1780.
Perhaps each candidate in the forthcoming presidential election should be asked for his or her views on Article 12.8 of the Constitution. – Yours, etc,
JOE KEHOE,
Celbridge,
Co Kildare.
Minister for dereliction?
Sir, – James Browne, the Minister for Housing, should take a road trip from Kerry to Donegal, staying inland from the Wild Atlantic Way and the tourist hot spots, to see the struggling small towns. There are many, once vibrant and thriving, communities now devastated by lack of opportunity for the young.
Shops, factories, boutiques, hotels and pubs have been closed down, some Covid-related. There is so much dereliction, with fine buildings boarded up and in need of repair. These buildings could be used as much-needed family homes or apartment living over shops and close to schools, churches, sports grounds and public transport.
Do we need a minister for derelict housing? – Yours, etc,
ANNE MARIE KENNEDY,
Craughwell,
Co Galway.
Hundy P the worst
Sir, – I, too, have been perturbed by the ubiquitous use of 100 per cent as an alternative to “yes”. That was until I heard its abbreviation, “Hundy P”. I thought it couldn’t get worse but I was 100 per cent wrong. – Yours, etc,
EVA McDONNELL,
Kilmacud,
Dublin 14.
Sir, – Dympna Considine writes of “100 per cent” becoming a widespread affirmative response (Letters, August 23rd).
It is not widespread in the hospitality industry, however. Every time my order is taken at any restaurant or cafe, the response is always “perfect”. I have yet to place an “imperfect” order, it seems. – Yours, etc,
ROB O’MAHONY,
Kilmainham,
Dublin 8.
Back-to-school costs
Sir, – Unlike Deirdre Davy, who wrote recently about too many articles about return-to-school costs, I value your coverage of this topic (Letters, August 27th). With the high inflation rate in recent years and the significant proportion of the population impacted by increasing education costs it is a newsworthy subject. It would be remiss of you not to provide the warranted coverage. – Yours, etc,
KP SMYTH,
Glasnevin,
Dublin 9.
How many steps?
Sir, – It has been reported that 10,000 steps a day are not necessary (“Good news for those who don’t complete 10,000 steps a day”, Your Wellness, August 25th). A 70 year old does all right with 4,500, but what about a 90 year old? – Yours, etc,
TONY WALL,
Raheny,
Dublin 5.
