Sir, – Regarding “European Union must decide how hard it wants to hit back at United States” (Jack Power, Analysis, April 4th), how do you play chicken with someone who actually wants to crash the car? – Yours, etc,
JOHN COTTER,
Ferrybank,
Waterford.
Masters 2025: Tee times, what TV channel is it on, Augusta weather, players to watch
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Darragh Ó Sé: Páidí told me that however much of a cowboy he was, Micko was 10 times worse
Trying out Lidl’s new Thermomix dupe: ‘I don’t take direction from a robot well’
Sir, – I am having a painful, infected tooth removed this week. Once I pay, I will be running a trade deficit with my dentist.
As a result, I have decided to apply a swinging tariff which will increase the cost next time I visit. That’ll teach him. – Yours, etc,
RONNIE SIMPSON,
Bray,
Co Wicklow.
Sir, – Tánaiste Simon Harris, calling for increased trade with China in view of President Trump’s tariffs, revealed that, during his meeting in February with his Chinese counterpart, expressed concerns about China’s “non-market policies and practices” (News, April 7th). What about our “concern” regarding China’s human-rights record? What about air-miles for goods coming from China, and the climate crisis? And, since most of what your average Irish household spends its money on appears to have been made in China, is increased trade with the country really the answer to the tariff trade war? – Yours, etc,
PETER DECLAN O’HALLORAN,
Belturbet,
Co Cavan.
Sir, – In Britain, they seem to think that Sir Keir Starmer’s sucking up attempts to Donald Trump has won them a reprieve, with tariffs at only half of what is being demanded from the rest of Europe. I suspect that Mr Trump’s apparent leniency with Britain is more a case of support of Brexit and an attempt to stir up more trouble within the EU in the hope of breaking it up. – Yours, etc,
ANNE STRAHAN,
Bantry,
Co Cork.
Sir, – Seeing stock markets fall is not in itself a rare event, but more an inevitability given human herd mentality. The current situation in one way seems unprecedented though. It was bizarre, but undeniable, that the prime ministership of Liz Truss via enthusiasm for contrarian financial decisions made itself untenable through the consequent market chaos. The strange US system of four-year terms makes the current driver of systemic uncertainty appear baked into all financial speculation until about 2029. Usually hopes to “buy the dip” encourage the braver investor to jump in at corrections and crashes. This may be more a canyon than a dip though, given the US president’s attitude and reluctance to listen to others. – Yours, etc,
BRIAN O’BRIEN,
Kinsale,
Co Cork.
Sir, – Pat Leahy notes that the mandarins of Merrion Street were “delighted and amazed” at the money flowing into the Government’s coffers in the past (“The return of austerity would destroy the Government”, Opinion & Analysis, April 5th). This is surprising as they were deeply involved in the tax breaks and intellectual property box that facilitated massive global greed and established Ireland as one of the world’s largest tax havens. Some of these billions came from poorer countries, denying them a tax base for housing, hospitals and schools, adding to global inequality. Because of this activity the EU is not overly sympathetic to the predicted economic fallout for Ireland.
It is likely to be a hard-learned lesson that more financially ethical behaviour with future trading partners will leave us less exposed to huge financial shocks. – Yours, etc,
PAUL CONNOLLY,
Cavan.
Sir, – Libation Day, more like. It would turn one to drink. – Yours, etc,
MICHAEL KEEGAN,
Booterstown,
Co Dublin.
Diagnosing autism
Sir, – I write with reference to Ronan McGreevy’s interview (“An Irish doctor on why she believes autism, ADHD and depression are being overdiagnosed”, Your Family, April 5th) with Dr Suzanne O’Sullivan about potential overdiagnosis of some conditions. I write specifically about autism.
A piece of mine about my diagnosis of autism at the age of 16 was published in the 2021 Irish Times Fighting Words supplement, and it was remarkably well received. In this piece, I discussed the incredible freedom and sense of relief that came with my diagnosis.
I appeared to be, to use Dr O’Sullivan’s words, “at the very mild end of the spectrum”. (Of course nothing about my autism was mild to me, but I had learned how to make its impact on others relatively mild.)
The main thing that strikes me about the interview is that Dr O’Sullivan’s argument isn’t that people like me aren’t genuinely autistic, but rather that we would benefit very little from a diagnosis or – in her words – “being labelled”.
I’ve always been labelled, whether by concerned family members or by cruel schoolfellows. When I was a small child, I was “difficult” or “uninterested in others”. As I grew up and went to school, new labels popped up: “know-it-all”, “teacher’s pet”, sometimes “obsessive” for my delight in my interests. My need for rules and consistency in their application got me branded “tell-tale”, which was hardly a recipe for friendships.
In my teenage years, the labels got worse still – to “insolent”, “arrogant”, “cold”, “emotionless”, and “self-centred”, and eventually to words like “retarded”.
I’m now 20, over four years post-diagnosis, and I’d take “autistic” over those labels any day.
Keeping that life-saving label from me wouldn’t make me any less autistic, and frankly I don’t see why it’d be a problem if I were to “take on the features of that label” (autistic). It would only mean that I’d stopped hiding them. – Yours, etc,
MARLOWE NORTH,
Dublin 7.
Sir, – Undiagnosed autistic people frequently adopt coping techniques, such as masking, to camouflage their autistic traits. In striving to perform to neurotypical standards, their self-esteem suffers as they work extraordinarily hard to exist in a world that was not built for them. Unsurprisingly, many autistic adults experience burnout and other mental health difficulties.
For many, a late autism diagnosis is a lightbulb moment that unlocks access to reasonable accommodations, where required, and more importantly, self-understanding, self-acceptance and greater self-belief.
If that is not a beneficial experience, I don’t know what is. – Is mise,
ERICA LEE,
Clane,
Co Kildare.
The social enterprise sector
Sir, – As we come to terms with the enormous vulnerabilities of our export-driven economy, it would be worth remembering our indigenous social enterprise sector, of which there are 5,000 organisations operating in childcare, hospitality, local and community development, recycling, arts and heritage and many other sectors, employing 85,000 people and trading about €2.5 billion per annum. These businesses are the truest form of indigenous enterprise, working for Irish society with profits reinvested into their core missions. Almost 70 per cent of their staff are women, too. Yet they struggle to be recognised as legitimate businesses.
With 2.8 million social economy enterprises across Europe employing almost 13.6 million people, surely the time has come for Ireland to fully recognise the potential for the social enterprise sector to create jobs and generate impact for Irish society, our economy and our shared environment? – Yours, etc,
Dr ANDREW FORDE,
School of Law & Government,
Dublin City University,
Dublin 9.
Artists and basic income scheme
Sir, – I would like to respond to a remark made by Michael McDowell in his article (“Our rights and freedoms are at stake in times as perilous as the late 1930s”, Opinion & Analysis, April 2nd). He writes: “If I think myself creative and spend my time painting, writing or making installations as a matter of right, does the State collectively owe me the duty of paying an artist’s basic income? And if I succeed, should my royalties be relieved of the duty to support the State in taxation, while my secretary has no such right?”
His remarks on the concept of a basic income for artists are both misguided and dismissive. His suggestion that an artist’s work is simply a matter of “thinking oneself creative” and “spending time painting” is both flippant and inaccurate. In reality, artists must demonstrate that they are practicing their craft professionally to qualify for basic income. It is not an entitlement granted to amateurs or hobbyists, as your columnist implies.
The Basic Income for the Arts (BIA) is not simply a handout but a proven means of fostering the arts. The basic income initiative has been successful in nurturing artists’ careers, allowing them to sustain their practice without being solely dependent on commercial success. The State’s role in supporting artists is not about providing an arbitrary subsidy, but about acknowledging the immense cultural value that artists contribute. Without support, artistic diversity would be stifled, potentially leading to the situation in the US, which has seen funding cuts to dissenting institutions. – Yours, etc,
BEATRICE O’CONNELL,
Visual Artist,
Dublin 14.
Maternity and the self-employed
Sir, – Emmet Malone’s article regarding maternity and paternity leave is very interesting, as is the research behind it (“Why do only half of fathers take paternity leave?”, Social Affairs, April 4th). However, I would suggest that there is also an issue regarding additional maternity supports for self-employed women who run businesses and are employers, in particular professional women who are the principal income generators for their businesses.
As well as the loss of their personal income while taking maternity leave, their businesses are also at the loss of their incomes. Meanwhile fixed expenses such as rent, payroll, lease finance, etc, must be paid. Thus, women’s businesses incur considerable leave related debt. This makes it prohibitive for many self-employed business owners to take more than 10 to12 weeks of maternity leave.
If women are to continue to run small businesses and provide employment, then specific support for these women also needs to be seriously considered. – Yours, etc,
ANGELA KEARNEY,
Drogheda,
Co Louth.
Jack – what’s in a name?
A chara, – I have long theorised that the modern popularity of “Jack” as a boy’s name has roots in popular culture. Film specifically. Your article motivated me to check the excellent and accessible CSO data (“What is behind the unshakeable popularity of the boy’s name Jack in Ireland?”, People, April 6th). But it suggests that Jacks started their rise before Hollywood influence. They first started to climb when Jack Charlton was helping us all walk a little taller. Great times. Then the tragic, love-struck Jack of Titanic fame turbo-boosted the numbers from 1998 before a joint effort by Jack Sparrow (Pirates of the Caribbean) and Jack Bauer (24) drove the peak in 2008.
Since then the numbers have actually been declining with half as many Jacks named in 2024 compared to 2008. Unless we see another heroic Jack soon, their number could be up. – Yours, etc,
JAMES McCARTHY,
Glenageary,
Co Dublin.
Official residence
Sir, – Cllr John Kennedy (Letters, April 7th) proposes an official residence for the Taoiseach. I agree. It should be an overpriced two-bedroomed flat, shared with three other people in the most poorly resourced area in Dublin.
Maybe then we would see a more urgent approach to solving the housing crisis. – Yours, etc,
TOM KELLY,
Broadstone,
Dublin 7.
Reaching the tipping point
Sir, – I recently found myself in a well-known cafe in Grafton Street. The food and coffee were excellent, the service charming, and the cakes dangerously addictive.
At the end of the meal the bill arrived accompanied by a little machine designed to gently nudge me toward generosity – but the available percentages were 12.5 per cent, 15 per cent or 20 per cent.
Now I’m all for rewarding good service, but I couldn’t help wondering whatever happened to the humble 10 per cent tip?
It appears that 10 per cent has been quietly retired – whisked away like a bad soufflé. Perhaps it is now resting in the same place as cassette tapes, phone boxes and affordable train tickets. – Yours, etc,
ED O’NEILL,
Sutton,
Dublin 13.
