Villagers: Letters to the Editor 2006-08-31
"This is the best day of my life": John Bruton on the day of Prince Charles' visit to Dublin. Now Gay Mitchell suggests a future role for a British head of state in Ireland. Over my dead body!
Keith Nolan
Co Leitrim
The Eoin Ó Murchú fanclub: Ó Murchú losing touch
I'm afraid Eoin Ó Murchú, who used to be so insightful on the political scene, is losing his touch. His article in Village (24-30 August) was faulty in two respects. Firstly, he claims that money should "be spent on worthwhile social projects that would improve the lives of citizens". In most democratic countries, since the 1980s and especially since the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, social expenditure has, as a political priority, played second fiddle to making sure that the level of public expenditure is such that taxes on entrepreneurs or workers is low. It seems to me that the majority of us accept that that argument has been decided upon, and there is no point in wasting ink wailing about it, as Eoin Ó Murchú is doing.
Secondly Eoin Ó Murchú's target in the article seems to be the opposition rather than the government. The achievements and failures of public policy in the last 10 years are the responsibility of the government, since they were in power for that period. In addition, the majority party has been in government for 18 of the last 20 years. If we are to have a debate about how public policy has evolved over a period, we have to give credit and blame to the parties who were in government during that time. Giving out about the opposition at the present time, as Eoin Ó Murchú is doing, seems to me, therefore, to be a waste of time.
Anthony Leavy, Dublin
Disbelief at Ó Murchú
It was with a sense of disbelief that I read in an otherwise interesting article in Village (24-30 August) that Eoin Ó Murchú referred to Ireland as a "little country". Why he should see his country as "little" is remarkable when we consider the vast empires created by countries half our size – not forgetting one of the most successful, England, which is not much bigger than Ireland.While it is regretable that a person with the credentials of Eoin Ó Murchú should see Ireland as lacking in stature, perhaps it's not as bad as the term "off-shore island".
If a person of intellect like Eoin Ó Murchú neglects to understand the colonial mindset that sees Republic of Ireland institutions copying what takes place in British society, creating in Ireland a community of secondary thinkers which precludes originality and inhibits creativity, where do we go to start solving the problem of neo-colonialism?
Brendan Pringle, Dublin
'War on terror': Repression breeds resistance
It is not often that I agree with the Royal Institute for International Studies (RIIS). However, this time it has got it spot on. In its latest report, the RIIS says Iran has been the chief beneficiary of the recent US/British wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. This is no surprise to those of us who opposed the warmongering of the US and Britain in the Middle East and their one-sided support for Israel's invasion of Lebanon and its continued occupation of Palestine, contrary to 35-year-old UN resolutions.
As someone who is opposed to right-wing religious fundamentalism (whether Islamic, Jewish or Christian), it saddens me to see the increased support for the purveyors of Sharia law, misogyny and disrespect for human rights that the misguided so-called "war on terror" is causing.
One would think that Britain, in particular, would have learned from its experiences in Ireland in 1916-1922 (as graphically depicted in The Wind That Shakes the Barley) and in 1969-1994 that repression breeds resistance and drives desperate people to desperate acts.
Councillor Dessie Ellis, Dublin
Charity collectors: Dangerous on-street collections
I demand that something be done about those people who try to force you to stop and answer surveys. You know what I'm talking about – somebody comes over from, say, Friends Of The Earth or Concern, and says, "Could you spare a few moments please?" This practice seems to be most prevalent around O'Connell Street and the adjoining major pedestrian areas. These people are extremely persistent and will often follow you if you try to ignore them. Apart from the fact that this practice is extremely annoying, it is also extremely dangerous. I have personally witnessed many people going onto the very busy roads full of traffic in order to avoid being harassed, thereby risking life and limb. There should be a law to stop this annoying and increasingly common practice.
Paul Kinsella, Dublin
Poland and Lebanon: Poland should have supported ceasefire
There should be concern about how the Polish parliament is voting on some world issues. Recently, in the European Parliament, Poland voted against an immediate ceasefire in the Lebanon. Now, I am old enough to remember the help that Ireland and the rest of the world gave Poland over 20 years ago when it was trying to remove the yoke of communism. An organisation called Solidarity was created to contest the communist state.
Ireland was one of the many countries to fully support this organisation when it needed help and, in time, the communist state collapsed.
It is sad to see Poland denying the chance of an immediate ceasefire to the Lebanese people. A few weeks ago, Pope Benedict was in Poland and one of the places he visited was Auschwitz. He did this out of respect for Jewish Poles who had suffered in the second world War. I am sure that he did not mean that the Polish people should now support Israel with a blindfold on, because of the terrible things that happened to them over 60 years ago.
Peter Kennedy, Dublin
Politics and education: Local representatives not listening to parents
In the midst of the Laytown Primary School crisis in Co Meath, I am perplexed and disheartened by the attitude displayed by some of our local political representatives.
Instead of actively listening to and engaging with the legitimate concerns of angry parents, it seems some would prefer instead to censor and attempt to make political gain from the sorry situation. Here I refer specifically to one councillor's removal of valid comments made on his election blog which criticised him for his absence from key meetings on the schooling issue. In a democracy, we enjoy the freedom to express our views and it is therefore the duty and obligation of all our political representatives to respect and respond to these opinions in a forthright manner. We don't always agree nor like what we hear, of course, but it is through active dialogue, not censorship, that we arrive at common understanding and agreement. At stake in this situation is the very serious moral tragedy of our children possibly being deprived of an education – a matter far more pressing than political gamesmanship.
Stephen McKee, Meath
STATEMENT Taoiseach should call a halt to sale of Aer Lingus
It's still not too late for the Taoiseach to intervene in the proposed sale of Aer Lingus.
This is a bad value proposition and a bad call. It will do nothing for the employees, the customer or the tax payer.
Even supporters of privatisation would have to concede that market conditions in the aviation industry are particularly difficult at this time – if your intention is to secure the best possible price for the taxpayer. The cost of aviation fuel is extremely volatile.
The industry is also suffering from the heightened security situation worldwide, and the Open Skies agreement – which would give Aer Lingus greater access to airports in the United States – is still unresolved and looks like it won't be finalised until next year. Moreover, there appears to be still unresolved pension issues with employees of SR Techniques (formerly TEAM Aer Lingus) arising from their previous service with the national airline. In summary, there could hardly be a worse time for such an ill-conceived plan.
There is so much uncertainty in the industry at present that the responsible course for the government to take is to call a halt to this process and reappraise the whole project.
SIPTU has campaigned against the privatisation of Aer Lingus on the grounds that it would not be in the best interests for our members, customers or tax payer.
But the ultimate responsibility for decisions on the future ownership of the company clearly lies with its largest shareholder – the government.
This is bad value proposition. According to the most optimistic forecast, the taxpayer will get only around ?300m-?400m. Aer Lingus itself will not receive a cent directly from the flotation. In fact, for Aer Lingus to get the necessary funding to expand its fleet, they will have to issue new shares, post the flotation. Even then, the money they plan to raise through the issuing of new shares will only yield approximately a quarter of the total investment needed.
SIPTU has done everything it can to protect its members' terms and conditions. Local Authorities up and down the country have passed motions saying they are opposed to the flotation. Ultimately, the decision is a political one which now appears to be being forced through, regardless of even the most obvious market and commercial considerations. Essentially, the national airline will be given away for a song and the electorate will no doubt remember who made that decision when the time comes," he said.
Michael Halpenny, SIPTU National Industrial Secretary
Gay Mitchell and the British monarchy: Re-entry into the Commonwealth must not be contemplated
The speech by Fine Gael TD Gay Mitchell at the annual Arthur Griffith-Michael Collins commemoration at Glasnevin Cemetary on Sunday 20 August, which was ignored by most national newspapers, in which Mitchell suggested a future role for the British monarch in Ireland to help persuade unionists in the North to consent to Irish unity, must be viewed with some concern, as there is every possibility that the Fine Gael party may be the senior partner in a coalition government next year.
What Mitchell is actually advocating is a return to 1914 when the Home Rule Act was passed into law. It may have escaped his attention, but half a million Ulster unionists signed a covenant to use "all means necessary including civil war" to resist an act of parliament giving Home Rule to Ireland. Furthermore, the leader of the Conservative party, Andrew Bonar Law, also showed his contempt for the democratic institutions he was elected to uphold by stating that "there are things stronger than parliamentary majorities".
When faced with this opposition, Asquith failed to uphold and defend an Act of his own Parliament.
What evidence has Mitchell got that today's unionists have changed? Surely the primacy of the DUP is evidence to the contrary. Not even the removal of Articles 2 and 3 of Bunreacht na hÉireann made the slightest difference to unionist attitudes towards the South.
Ever since partition, there has been a small, unrepresentative, Anglo-centric, neo-unionist minority wishing to restore the British dimension to the 26-county state, and they appear to have influence out of all proportion to their size.
It is quite likely that in the next few years, a package deal may be cobbled together by the Irish and British goverments. Some sort of reunification of the island, in return for re-entry into the Commonwealth, together with other re-Britishing measures. This must be firmly rejected. Society in the Irish State must make fundamental decisions regarding its political identity, ethos, and future policy directions. Will we continue along the path of nation-building, trying to assert a distinct, post-colonial Irish identity in alliance with the nations of Europe? Or do we now instead see ourselves as part of the 'Anglosphere', realigning ourselves ever more closely towards Great Britain?
In support of his speech at Glasnevin Cemetary, Mitchell quoted Article 29.4.1 of Bunreacht na hÉireann concerning the external relations of the State. Allow me to quote Article 9.2 of Bunreacht na hÉireann: "Fidelity to the nation and loyalty to the State are fundamental political duties of all citizens."
Tom Cooper, Dublin