Mr Martin goes to Washington
Sir, – Taoiseach Micheál Martin’s visit to Washington is referred to in your paper as possibly “the defining diplomatic moment of his career” and it is suggested that it was commendable that he emerged unscathed while essentially “saying nothing” (“Diplomacy is a delicate art”, March 13th). But should we really be happy with his performance?
A shift is under way in the so-called “world order” and international law and the Geneva conventions are clearly in danger of becoming relics of a different time. It is crucial right now that they are defended robustly by those states that understand their necessity.
The minimum that Mr Martin should have done this week as he met Donald Trump and members of his administration was speak up stoutly for the rule of international law. This meant explicitly raising Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but also Mr Trump’s impermissible threats against Palestinian civilians and his repeated calls for the mass displacement of the population of Gaza. More than 48,000 Palestinians have been killed in the US-backed Israeli assault on Gaza, with many more thousands still missing.
It is not clear that Mr Martin brought up any of this in an unambiguous manner. Referring vaguely to a preferred “two-state solution” and to the “humanitarian” situation is far from sufficient. Donald Trump is fond of appreciative and fearful vassals and it does seem that Ireland played this part well. Not a good day’s work. – Yours, etc,
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FINTAN LANE,
Lucan,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – Micheál Martin’s adroit diplomatic performance in the Oval Office’s charged, reality-television atmosphere was underscored by Jack Power’s analysis of how the EU Commission is struggling even to open a line of communication with the White House (“US may not be in a mood to do a deal with Europe on tariffs”, Business Technology & Innovation, March 13th). The Taoiseach’s reflection that his father’s boxing prowess was based on a “good defensive style” summed up his approach to achieving the desired outcome from the meeting. Ireland should value its access and treat it with care. - Yo–rs, etc,
JOHN NAUGHTON,
Leopardstown,
Dublin 18.
Sir, – The threat of tariffs from the US on our knowledge economy, particularly the pharmaceutical sector, reveals an underlying dysfunctionality in the strategy of the IDA, Enterprise Ireland and our universities.
For too long our strategy has been focused primarily on direct foreign investment and not enough on growing our own tech sector of Irish companies capable of exporting Irish knowledge-based products.
While we know growing an indigenous knowledge industry is difficult, if we are capable of establishing sufficient capacity from foreign companies to export in excess of $50 billion to the US alone, surely we are capable of developing Irish companies to billions of euro of revenue?
Surely this is a wake-up call to the powers-that-be in Government and State agencies to focus far more strategically toward the development of indigenous Irish tech companies, given the astounding workforce and know-how now at our disposal? – Yours, etc,
KEVIN NOLAN,
Rathfarnham,
Dublin 16.
Sir, – Is one of the elephants in the room that gives Ireland an easy ride in the Oval office our role as a major international tax haven? We funnel hundreds of billions of untaxed dollars through the country, further enriching the ultra-wealthy, who in turn pump millions into presidential campaigns. What future candidate or incumbent would want to rock that boat? – Yours, etc,
PAUL CONNOLLY,
Main St,
Cavan
Special classes for autism
Sir, – Ruth Molloy’s letter in yesterday’s paper (Letters, March 13th) about the reality of schools and autism classes in Ireland is perhaps the most clear-sighted commentary I have read on this matter. Far from being a case of schools being “reluctant” to open classes, Molloy outlines the very real challenges they face in doing so without adequate infrastructure, resources, and training.
It is very easy for the Department of Education to reduce this issue to an attitude problem on the part of principals, but the truth is the department has an entire system to overhaul before autistic students in Ireland can receive the quality education they are entitled to. I urge everyone to seek out Molloy’s letter and gain real understanding of this issue. – Yours, etc,
MÉABH NÍ CHOILEÁIN,
Terenure,
Dublin 6W.
Sir, – Your US correspondent, Keith Duggan, and your other readers may wish to know that the classic definition of a diplomat is “someone who thinks twice ... before saying nothing”. – Yours, etc.
DONAL DENHAM,
Mt Merrion Ave,
Blackrock,
Co Dublin
Integrated schooling
Sir, – Mark Hennessy reports that the end of segregation in Northern Ireland is a long way off (“Ending of segregation in Northern Ireland a long way off, report finds”, Home News, March 13th), noting that while 67 per cent of parents want integrated schools to be the norm, only 8 per cent of pupils attend them.
Thankfully, things are very different “down South,” where 65 per cent of parents want a multidenominational primary system – yet less than 5 per cent of schools fit that description.
When it comes to education, North and South seem to be reading from the same segregated syllabus. – Yours, etc,
SIMON LEWIS,
Crossneen,
Co Carlow.
O Canada
Sir, – Despite Donald Trump’s overtures to Canadians to become the 51st state, they have shown steadfast resistance to such a prospect. Among other things, Canadians have a significantly higher life expectancy than their American neighbours (82.6 years v 79.3 years). They enjoy the societal benefits of much lower inequality after redistributions (GINI coefficient 0.29 v 0.4) than do Americans. Allied to this, they experience mortality rates due to obesity roughly half those of US citizens; homicide rates less than a quarter of those over the border; and opioid deaths less than half the rate recorded in the United States. One could go on! And, for all its imperfections, they have universal healthcare. In exchange, all Trump is offering is a few tax cuts. What a miserable trade that would be, and Canadians know it. – Yours, etc,
BRENDAN O’REILLY,
Sutton,
Dublin 13.
Motorcycle fatalities
Sir, – I agree with the contents of Lorcan Roche’s letter (“Motorcycle fatalities”, Letters, March 12th). As a rural motorcyclist, I notice that the average motorist does not consider continuous white lines on a blind bend to be any more binding on them than the former Articles 2 and 3 of the Constitution (ie aspirational only), although crossing the line is an offence that attracts three penalty points.
If a motorist finds themselves crossing continuous white lines on bends, then they are driving too fast for that particular stretch of road and are endangering motorcyclists and other vulnerable road-users. – Yours, etc,
PAUL STACK,
Maynooth,
Co Kildare.
Neutrality in a changing world
Sir, – One element of the triple-lock debate that has not been discussed is the frequency with which defenders of the UN element of the lock have opposed deployments in Dáil Éireann. Since 1990, Ireland has approved 14 deployments under the triple-lock arrangement. On only three occasions – EUNAVFOR Sophia, UNDOF Syria, MINUSMA Mali – was there sufficient support (a minimum of 10 members is required) in the Dáil to call a formal vote. On each of those votes, Sinn Féin and the parties of the far left voted against deployment. On two of the votes (EUNAVFOR Sophia and MINUSMA Mali) they were joined in their opposition by the Labour Party, the Green Party and the Social Democrats. A number of Independents also opposed the motions.
Clearly these parties recognise that UN approval is not a sufficient condition to justify deployment, so the real question should be is it necessary? – Yours, etc,
KEN MCDONAGH
Associate professor of International Relations,
Dublin City University
A metro for Dublin
Sir, – I note with concern yet another opinion piece by Michael McDowell (“Will no one shout stop on the cost of the Metrolink?”, Opinion, March 12th) suggesting that MetroLink be scrapped. Yet again, I find myself asking why he continues to trivialise a project that – while far too long awaited – will be a critical piece of infrastructure not just for the airport, but for every community it will serve in North Dublin.
It is no secret that Ireland’s arcane planning system has left gaping holes in our country’s transport infrastructure. Nowhere is that more evident that on Dublin’s northside. The people I represent in Swords, and so many others, are paying the price.
But, speaking as one of those people, I can testify that the solution is not to “shout stop”, to coin a phrase. The solution is to crack on. Why? Because every day without MetroLink is another day of congested roads, jam-packed buses and frustrated commuters.
The impact of inflation, and the occasional redesign, have taken their toll, but just imagine the cost of going back to the drawing board – not just the cost to the Exchequer, but to Dublin.
MetroLink will carry up to 20,000 passengers per hour in each direction (more than double the capacity of any Luas). That’s up to 53 million passengers a year, serving an ever-growing region, as well as our busy airport.
It is amusing, however, that such an advocate for the Luas told Dáil Éireann in 1996 that said Luas was an “expensive toy train set that will damage the city rather than improve it”.
Let’s be very clear: there is no alternative to MetroLink. – Yours, etc.
Cllr LUKE CORKERY
Swords,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – Senator Michael McDowell rightly asks are we blundering into a quango-driven catastrophe with our eyes wide open. Certainly, with Metrolink, with a price tag of €23 billion, it would appear so. The cost benefit to the nation of such a project could take a century to realise. Yes, by all means, build a rail link from city centre to the airport, but not at the astronomical cost of over €20 billion.
Surely the cities of Cork, Limerick and Galway should at a minimum have the equivalent of a Luas. Let’s take the heat from the capital property market and promote our provincial cities as desirable places to live and work for future generations. – Yours, etc,
VINCENT CARROLL,
Rathfarnham,
Dublin 14
Ireland’s response to covid
Sir, – Age Action Ireland welcomes the inclusion of a specific module to examine the handling of Covid-19 in long-term residential care facilities for older people in the Terms of Reference for an Evaluation of Ireland’s Response to Covid-19, while stressing the critical importance of finally providing answers both for older people, as well as the families of those whose relatives died in those facilities during the pandemic.
Your editorial (“The Covid-19 anniversary: five years on, it is time for an inquiry,” March 13th) correctly notes that many aspects of Ireland’s pandemic management compare favourably; however, the proportion of deaths which occurred in nursing homes is one metric on which Ireland’s performance was undeniably poor. Deaths were at the upper end of the spectrum internationally. Older people living in long-term residential care, and their families, suffered disproportionately during the pandemic. At the same time, it is important to recognise that more than half of nursing homes remained free of the virus. Clearly, there are significant lessons to be learned.
Current and future residents in long-term residential care, as well as the families of older people who died in nursing homes during the pandemic in “appalling circumstances of isolation”, still have many unanswered questions about how the pandemic was managed in this sector, and how any future pandemics will be managed. These questions include, but are not limited to: the standards of clinical care in nursing homes generally, as well as the care provided to those who died; variance in the care experience in the same facility; communication channels between both nursing homes and the HSE, as well as those between nursing homes, residents and their families; why some nursing homes experienced a much higher mortality rate; the basis on which management of some nursing homes was taken over by the HSE; the robustness of the system for attesting causes of death on death warrants.
It is imperative that the evaluation listens closely to the experience of both older residents of nursing homes and bereaved families, and that lessons about how to better manage the needs of older people in long-term residential care are both learned and diligently implemented to reform our current disconnected model of institutional care. We are all ageing, and we all have a right to the highest standards of care when we need it in our older years, including when in long-term residential care. – Yours, etc,
CAMILLE LOFTUS,
Head of Advocacy & Public Affairs,
Age Action Ireland,
Lower Camden St,
Dublin 2.
In defence of the dandelion
Sir, – Regarding the recent correspondence about whether honeybees use dandelions for nectar and pollen, one of my hobbies is studying various honeys for their pollen content.
I can assure your readers that dandelion pollen is very commonly found in most samples. – Yours, etc,
RUARY RUDD,
Waterville,
Co Kerry.
