Sir, – Elections have consequences. The US election of 2024 may be remembered as the election that finally saw the end of the American century and the American empire.
Empires are like stars: you never know when the light you see is coming from a dying or dead star. The British empire was in decline from the early 20th century yet the last time a Labour government took over from the Conservatives in 1997, the British economy was larger than the Chinese and Indian economies combined. Now they are seven times bigger.
The 20th-century American empire has been in decline for decades but had been instrumental in constructing a liberal international trading infrastructure to support its geopolitical and geo-economic objectives. The very multilateral institutional and tariff framework that President Trump rails against – the World Trade Organisation, the International Monetary Fund, the United States, Mexico, Canada Agreement, and Nato, among many others – created a set of relations within which the US could strategise to keep their allies close and their enemies in abeyance, leading, not too inconsequentially, to the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the cold war. The “End of History” was hailed.
As the Trump regime vandalises not only the American reputation but the very foundation of its relations with its key allies and trading partners, it will be practically impossible to reconstruct trust in American political leadership. Europe can no longer rely on the stability of its strategic relationship with its old ally – even if there is a miraculous Democratic renaissance at the next US election, a long 3½ years away.
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The European Union must strive for strategic autonomy. The already diagnosed structural weaknesses in Europe’s competitiveness identified in last September’s Draghi report must be addressed by committing to collective investment in key areas such as infrastructure, research and development and entrepreneurial funding.
The world is at a transformative moment – Joe Biden said that that in last year’s election, and democracy was on the ballot. The American people spoke, and elected a man intent on reshaping the international order.
We must stand for the values of dependability, decency and democracy. – Yours, etc,
GERARD ARTHURS,
Lecturer in International Relations and Politics,
South East Technological
University,
Waterford.
Sir, – Like most of the world I was shocked and appalled by Donald Trump’s tariff announcements a few nights ago. What I was less shocked with was how he “magnanimously” pulled almost all of these back yesterday. Further announcing that this was his strategy all along. A supposed application of his “Art of the Deal”.
What now has me questioning is how this unprecedented and almost fantastical strategic thinking can’t be applied to his tactics to end the war in Ukraine.
It seems to be a growing thorn in his side and a further proof of the US president being unable to fulfil his campaign promises
Is the next step to arm Ukraine to a level that has not been seen before to turn the tide of the war back to Ukraine and apply a similar level of bullishness to his dealings with Russia? This reader thinks not. – Yours, etc,
JAMES TATE,
Goatstown,
Dublin 14.
Sir, – When I was at college, I spent more than I earned. Consequently, I felt it was expedient to keep on good terms with my bank, which could call in my overdraft at any time. China owns large quantities of US Treasury bonds. I am not sure President Trump is clever in continuing to pick a fight with his biggest creditor. – Yours, etc,
JULIAN GAISFORD-ST LAWRENCE,
Sallins,
Co Kildare.
Sir, – There is a simple rule in business that says that you make what you can sell, not sell what you can make. If Mr Trump wants to do more business in Europe then he should send over European-sized cars and “trucks”, not the giant fuel-guzzling monsters that are only suited to Texan ranches.
He could also have a look at producing hormone- and chlorine-free meats and non-genetically modified grains. European roads and diets are our business and everyone has the same level playing field if they adhere to the rules. – Yours, etc,
JOHN ROGERS,
Rathowen,
Co Westmeath.
Sir, – I was struck by a photograph in your business pages yesterday (Will Oliver, European Pressphoto Agency). On Liberation Day, the limelight was hogged in the White House Rose Garden by the self-proclaimed very stable genius. But, as your photo shows, the handbrake turn was left to the White House press secretary and Mr Trump’s hapless treasury secretary. I note in passing that the latter appeared to be counting on his fingers. – Yours, etc,
PAT O’BRIEN,
Rathmines,
Dublin 6.
Sir, – As taxpayers, you’d have to question whether we are getting value for money from Simon Harris’s spin doctors, who haven’t released a concise statement that Tánaiste Simon Harris held high-level talks with the US administration, and within hours it had reversed tariffs for almost the entire world.
A missed opportunity for sure. – Yours, etc,
DAVID CURRAN,
Knocknacarra,
Galway.
Sir, – It was a relief to see Donald Trump row back on tariffs before Simon Harris met US secretary of commerce Howard Lutnick (who has called Ireland’s policies a tax scam). Given that Mr Trump has already categorised these overtures from individual allies seeking to appease him as “ass kissing”, Simon Harris may be better off forgoing such opportunities for personal profile and letting the EU negotiate resolutely as one to avert global economic chaos. Over St Patrick’s week, Micheál Martin’s sycophantic turn in the White House ended with Conor McGregor “speaking for the people of Ireland”.
We don’t need another disastrous coda to a delusional attempt at diplomacy. – Yours, etc,
M LYNCH,
Dublin 8.
Sir, – The Irish Times is reputed as being the news paper of fact, so when will it stop reporting on Donald Trump? – Yours etc,
THOMAS MORRIS GORMALLY,
Rathangan,
Co Kildare.
We keep building more roads
Sir, – Do we ever learn? This week, Cabinet approved nearly €500 million for a new road from Cork to Ringaskiddy, just a year after completing the €215 million Dunkettle Interchange.
In Galway, the county council is once again pushing for a €1 billion second ring road, despite it being misaligned with our climate targets.
The money we’ve spent, and continue to plan for, on roads in these cities could go a long way toward funding fast-tracked tram systems for both.
But we never learn. We keep building more roads, and more people keep driving. – Yours, etc,
Dr OLA LØKKEN NORDRUM,
Beggars Bush,
Dublin 4.
Travelling to Donegal
Sir, – A recent article highlighted the impact of the new UK travel Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme on tourism in Northern Ireland (“Fears new UK digital immigration system could disrupt Irish tourism”, News, April 1st).
What it did not mention is that this will also have a severe impact on travel to Donegal, as almost all routes to the county will cross the Border at some point. Travellers are being told that they must have an ETA if they travel into or pass through Northern Ireland (even if they do not stop), so essentially it is a tax on visitors who travel to Donegal, involving extra cost, pre-travel clearance, and utter confusion in messaging. We should not tolerate the emergence of a tourism border, irrespective of wink-and-nudge assurances that there will be no checks. Ireland is promoted as a 32-county destination, and this ETA requirement needs to be removed. – Yours, etc,
NIAMH HAMILL,
Institute of Study Abroad Ireland,
Bundoran,
Co Donegal.
The health service, spin and PR
A chara,– Listening to the response of An Taoiseach to recent issues around spinal surgery in Temple Street Children’s Hospital, I was reminded of an argument made by Grant Ennis in his excellent book Dark PR.
In this book, Ennis describes how those in power seek to keep the conversation around individual responsibility not systemic change or corporate culpability.
In this instance the public are asked to ignore unacceptable waiting lists, under-resourcing and possible issues of governance and focus on shortcomings of an individual nature. – Is mise,
FINOLA DOOGAN,
Ferrybank,
Waterford.
Alzheimer’s and new drugs
Sir, –This week, the European Commission Appeals Committee is considering the licensing of Leqembi, the first European Medicines Agency-approved drug to slow early stage Alzheimer’s disease.
This very unusual escalation to the appeals committee, comes weeks after the European Medicines Agency rejected a similar drug, citing its inadequate benefit-risk profile.
These high-profile new treatments have sparked much media coverage, research discussions and public discourse about their benefits and risk.
As researchers, policymakers and NGOs debate the benefits and risks, we must pause and ask: are we losing sight of the people at the very heart of this?
Yes, the risk-benefit debate is vital. The risks – such as brain swelling and bleeds – are tangible and measurable while benefit is harder to quantify. A small statistical change on a cognitive scale might seem insignificant, but it’s real-world implications – staying in employment a little longer, maintaining a sense of a hope and control, or simply tackling the weekly crossword -– can vary greatly from person to person.
These aren’t just numbers. They’re life moments.
People with dementia and their families will bear the risks, undertake the demanding treatment regime, and hopefully gain the benefits. Their decisions must be guided by informed conversations, not assumptions about what outcomes are “worthwhile”.
To enable truly informed choices, we must also dismantle stigma. The misconception that life with moderate and advanced dementia lacks value undermines autonomy and meaningful participation in decision-making. The science will keep evolving, but so too must our conversation. As society passionately debates regulation, policy and funding, there are real people at home anxiously listening and watching. Ultimately, it’s not just about what treatments do, it’s what they make possible and how important that is to each individual. – Yours, etc,
DR LAURA O’PHILBIN,
Research and Policy Manager,
The Alzheimer Society of Ireland,
Blackrock,
Co Dublin.
Language of the Social Democrats
A chara, – The Social Democrats appear to be having difficulties with language. Stating last year that Eoin Hayes was suspended for an “indefinite period”, now the TD has suddenly been reinstated, to give the party access to more than one Dáil Committee. My Oxford dictionary gives two possible definitions of the word “indefinite”. 1: without exact limits, eg for an indefinite period. 2: vague, unclear”. I suspect the Social Democrats, ironically, would prefer the second definition, “vague, unclear”. – Is mise,
PETER DECLAN O’HALLORAN,
Belturbet,
Co Cavan.
Double thurible
Sir, – Finbar Kearns used to impress his fellow altar boys by swinging the thurible full circle without spilling is contents on the congregation (Letters April 10th). They narrowly avoided being doubly incensed then? – Yours, etc,
KEVIN O’SULLIVAN,
Letterkenny,
Co Donegal.
