A chara, – I find the sentiments expressed by Carmel Delaney (Letters, January 30th) worthy but naive. They are crystallised in this sentence: “The truth is there is no appetite for war – not in Ireland, not in Europe, and not globally.”
There is certainly an appetite for war in the Middle East, in Russia and in central Africa. Many of your correspondents have argued for continuing neutrality, but also for a significant increase in Ireland’s defensive capabilities, which make us, for now, an international laughing stock. No, we should not join Nato, but we should be the architects of our own destiny in an increasingly volatile world; this means having Defence Forces worthy of the name.
Ms Delaney also advocates engaging with China but that country remains part of the problem, as its sabre-rattling over Taiwan proves. – Is mise,
TERRY WALSH,
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Cartagena,
Murcia,
Spain.
A chara, – We all share Carmel Delaney’s desire for co-operation over confrontation, and for diplomacy to keep us away from a disastrous nuclear war; however, it is unfortunately the case that not every national leader shares that worldview, most notably Vladimir Putin.
Mr Putin has ordered incursions into Georgia and Ukraine, where he has annexed land which he considers to be “historically Russian”. As part of his revanchist campaign to rectify the historical injustice of the collapse of the USSR, and restore Russia’s status as a great imperial power, he is currently waging a bloody war in eastern Ukraine, where his army is reported to have perpetrated war crimes, and from where he has abducted and forcibly transferred almost 20,000 Ukrainian children.
It is simply the case – and always has been – that some nations, or at least some national leaders, harbour a sense of historical grievance and injustice informed by certain narratives and cultural mythologies. These grievances must be rectified, and are not susceptible to diplomacy and negotiation that do not result in the transfer of territory to their control.
In light of American signalling of its retreat from the continent, for Europe to fail to develop its defensive capabilities, and to fail to prepare for further aggression from Russia and her allies, is naive and frankly reckless. The best-case scenario would be a few years’ reprieve before another attempt to annex Ukraine; the worst case would be a more ambitious campaign in eastern Europe, with a weakened Nato unwilling or unable to deter it.
It is time for Ireland to drop the pretence that we can – or should – remain neutral in these circumstances, and that we can play any kind of intermediary role. We must show real solidarity with our European allies, who face more immediate and dire security concerns than we do. That does not require us to join Nato, but we should not get in the way of greater European defensive co-operation. – Is mise,
DAVE McGINN,
Naas,
Co Kildare.
A chara, – Carmel Delaney says there is no appetite for war – not in Europe and not globally.
A total of 113,636 Ukrainians have sought protection in Ireland since their war with Russia began. Has she persuaded any of them of her point of view?
There are currently 45 armed conflicts taking place throughout the Middle East and North Africa, with 35 more in sub-Saharan Africa.
As Leon Trotsky observed: “You may not be interested in war, but war is interested in you.” – Yours, etc,
Dr BLAIR NOONAN,
Dublin 6.
Remarks of President Higgins
Sir, – Whatever about the pejorative comments on our President expressed by Finn McRedmond, her WhatsApp group and the Times of London (“I am tired of explaining Michael D Higgins’s words to incredulous English people”, Opinion & Analysis, January 30th), he faithfully represents, I believe, not any “peacenik class” but the general people of Ireland.
He is a President of dignity, imagination and sensitivity but above all of independence of mind.
I hope whoever is elected after him will continue to use the ethical stature of the presidential role and not to bow to current modes of political thought and mass opinion but to stand up and speak out for international law and justice without fear or favour.
In a world where universal human rights are increasingly ignored and walked upon, where the pursuit of wealth by any means is the norm, where nations feel that their only protection lies in increasing militarisation, there is an urgent need to have voices who remind us that an other world is possible – one based on respect of human rights, dignity and integrity.
We are at a critical point where the future of humanity and the basis of our existence, Planet Earth, are at risk.
Contemporary voices that stand out from the crowd should be listened to and not pilloried as “moral hectoring”. – Yours, etc,
BRENDAN BUTLER,
Drumcondra,
Dublin 9.
Sir, – Finn McRedmond suggests that President Higgins is merely “shouting into the abyss” in his references to atrocities in Gaza. Mr Higgins, it seems, should not express these views because they are bringing the wrath of the British press down on Ireland and for this reason, he should desist!
Mr Higgins is the only barely flickering candle of conscience this country has left. – Yours, etc,
PETER McNALLY,
Skerries,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – Let us be less concerned about the views of other countries on our President speaking out for Palestinians and more exercised about the terrible silence of the vast majority of European leaders regarding the vastly disproportionate punishment doled out by the Israeli government against the civilian Palestinian population, and the denial by Israel of self-determination for Palestinians. – Yours, etc,
BRIAN MANGAN,
Dublin 9.
Sir, – I was reading Finn McRedmond on what the London chattering classes think of President Michael D Higgins when I was struck by an aperçu myself: does it take an “intellectually vain” woman to deconstruct an “intellectually vain” man? – Yours, etc,
Dr PAT NOLAN,
Blackrock,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – President Higgins made two references to “attempted” genocide in his speech to last Sunday’s Holocaust Memorial Day Commemoration. The first reference could possibly be interpreted as referring to genocide in general. The second time, however, is clearly referring to the Holocaust.
At the 1946 Nuremberg trials, the defendants were accused but not convicted of genocide. The concept of genocide was new to international law and the trials predated drafting and adoption of the Genocide Convention of 1948. However, in the Nuremberg trials, prosecutors accused the defendants of genocide, not “attempted” genocide.
The 1948 convention defines genocide as “intent to destroy in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group”. The murder of six million Jews, men, women and children, not because of anything individuals had done, but purely based on their racial origin, clearly falls within this definition.
President Higgins, who I’m sure carefully chooses every word, needs to explain himself to the Jewish community and to all those offended by his comments. It was genocide. – Yours, etc,
FINTAN FARRELLY,
Carlingford,
Co Louth.
Gender balance in government
Sir, – Criticism of the gender balance in the new government is misplaced (“Cabinet gender balance row intensifies after 23 Ministers of State appointed”, News, January 30th). The composition of the Government reflects the gender balance in the Dáil. Some 25 per cent of the TDs returned by the electorate are female. Of the 38 Ministers and Ministers of State, nine are women, almost 25 per cent. In addition, the Ceann Comhairle is a woman. The fault, if there is one, is not in our stars (the Government) but in ourselves (the electorate). – Yours, etc,
FELIX M LARKIN,
Cabinteely,
Dublin 18.
A chara, – While much has been made about the number of women in Cabinet, the reality is that a crude 50/50 “balance” would entail every Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael female TD becoming a Minister of some variety. No selection on merit would be possible.
Rather than quotas or other artificial mechanisms, it is time that the voters of Ireland, in particular the female voters, got with the programme and finally came to the realisation that it is desperately important we have more female politicians. – Is mise,
DAVE SLATER,
Kilkea,
Co Kildare.
Storm Éowyn aftermath
Sir, – To change the name of Irish Water to Uisce Éireann is reported to have cost some €100,000 in 2023. I’m sure this sum would have bought quite a few back-up generators for pumping stations that were left without electricity after Storm Éowyn.
I’m also certain that those people who were left without water in their taps after the storm would not be troubled as to whether it was water or uisce that came out of their taps once they could make a nice cup of tea and have a good wash or a shower. – Yours, etc,
NOEL SHANAGHY,
Faithlegg,
Co Waterford.
Sir, – Contrary to the general belief that electric cars are useless when there is a power cut, they can be very useful when you connect a “vehicle to load” adapter, you can then use the car’s battery to boil a kettle, plug in the freezer, and many other uses. When the battery runs low, drive to a fast-charger and buy some more electricity to keep going. So it essentially eliminates the need for a generator (in the case of a house). I reckon a half-charged car battery would keep a freezer going a week or so. – Yours, etc,
GERD BENNDORF,
Donadea,
Co Kildare.
Sir, – Building energy ratings (BER) A-rated houses that rely exclusively on electricity for all the usual things, including pumps to circulate water for toilets. No electricity – no flushing toilets.
Electric cars and no active charging points. This is not about range anxiety; this is about power outages both domestic and commercial.
Domestic solar photovoltaic (PV) panels that, by default, are required to cease functioning when there is no power coming from the grid: ironic but true.
Government policy has correctly pushed us to leave fossil fuels in the past.
Policy must now respond to the new reality. – Yours, etc,
AISLING KEARNEY,
Achonry,
Sligo.
Sir, – Our very active charity sector is commendably prompt to fund-raise and hop on flights to relieve natural disaster victims anywhere in the world.
Have I missed the media reports of activity and the pleading advertisements to help in the wake of Storm Éowyn? – Yours, etc,
PATRICK HOWLIN,
Milltown,
Dublin 14.
‘Moaning about cycle lanes’
Sir, – Eamon Ryan makes a lot of good points in “Moaning about cycle lanes is a symptom of our inertia on road safety and climate” (Opinion & Analysis, January 30th) but we should moan about cycle lanes, the poor-quality ones that is. I’ve been using the new Clontarf cycle route in Dublin for the past few weeks. It’s marketed as the gold standard for cycling infrastructure in Ireland, but if this is truly our best, we’re in trouble.
While the Clontarf scheme was promoted as a public and active transport initiative, it feels more like an urban motorway. The cycle lanes are an improvement over the usual alternative – nothing but not much more. They’re too narrow, riddled with awkward design choices, and suffer from uneven surfacing and awkward angles. Compared to the simple, functional approach seen in cities like Copenhagen, this feels more like a BMX track than a proper cycling route.
Dublin’s lack of quality cycling infrastructure makes cycling an activity for the brave rather than the many.
If we want more people to cycle and enjoy the immense benefits of active transport, we need world-class infrastructure. Nothing more, but certainly nothing less. – Yours, etc,
Dr OLA LØKKEN NORDRUM,
Dublin 4.
Sir, – I do not believe most people “moan” about cycle lanes, but some have expressed justifiable concerns about the related negative impacts. These concerns simply being ignored, or criticising anything other than blind acceptance, as Eamon Ryan continues to do, might help explain the performance of the Green Party in the recent general election. – Yours, etc,
DAVID MAHON,
Dublin 4.
OPW builds €490,000 wall
Sir, – Gimme Shelter has been knocked off the top of the OPW charts. For the record, the latest chart-topper is Another Brick in the Wall. – Yours, etc,
MICHAEL CULLEN,
Sandycove,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – It is unfortunate for the Government that it has “hit the wall” so early in a five-year marathon. – Yours, etc,
HUGH HANNON,
Bray,
Co Wicklow.
Grin and bear it
Sir, – Scientists have discovered that polar bears prevent ice buildup thanks to the grease in their fur – wash it away, and their hair behaves just like ours, accumulating ice with ease (“Polar bear de-icing attributes found to be down to greasy hair”, Environment, January 30th).
As a teenager with flowing locks, I washed mine religiously, never suspecting I might have been better off embracing a more polar approach.
Alas, now, being chrome-domed, I have no choice in the matter. – Yours, etc,
ENDA CULLEN,
Armagh.
