Trump’s tariffs
Sir, – This week’s tariff storm may have somewhat calmed, but its ripple effects threaten real harm to those at the bottom of the global economic ladder (“Trump’s tariffs will damage the world”, Business, April 9th)
While headlines focus on geopolitical manoeuvring, it is vulnerable communities – already at the sharp end of the economic crisis and without safety nets – who are likely to bear the brunt.
I represent a coalition, including Christian Aid Ireland, Amnesty International Ireland, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Oxfam Ireland and Trócaire. We work to strengthen protections for people and the planet to ensure those already most vulnerable are not left to bear the costs of corporate abuse.
We are deeply concerned by the European Commission’s recently published Omnibus proposal, a sweeping package of deregulatory legislation being sold as the key to revitalising Europe’s economy by reducing red tape and easing the administrative burden on businesses.
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But this narrative is not only deeply misleading, it’s downright dangerous. Deregulation won’t lead to prosperity, it will dismantle the vital protections that safeguard the basic rights of workers and vulnerable communities, both here in Ireland and around the world.
Robust human rights and environmental standards aren’t anti-business or anti-jobs. They’re the bedrock of a fair economy that puts people and planet before profit.
The Irish Government must take a stand to protect hard-won rights and prevent vital protections from being watered down. The cost of weakening these standards is far too high, and it’s a price people across the world simply cannot afford to pay. – Yours, etc,
EVIE CLARKE,
Coordinator of the Irish Coalition for Business and Human Rights,
Dublin 2.
Sir, – While there is still significant uncertainty as to what happens with global trading tariffs after US president Donald Trump’s announcement of a 90-day “ceasefire”, his climbdown on the matter is significant.
There is little doubt that the enormous reaction from global financial markets to Trump’s latest bout of narcissistic mania, and most tellingly the sell-off in US government bonds, brought Mr Trump – influenced most likely by whatever sane voices remain in his inner circle – to his abrupt about-turn.
There is, I believe, a lesson in what has transpired here. Many voices argued, not without reason, for calm responses to Trump’s unilateral onslaught, up to and including no response. The question that should be considered, however, is whether global financial markets would have reacted as strenuously in the absence of clear signalling from the EU, and other key trading partners of the US, to retaliate with commensurate tariffs on US exports.
Had the world’s pre-eminent bully been allowed a free pass – yet again- in the face of his unreasonable behaviour it is highly likely that global financial markets would have remained calm – or at least calmer – and the punitive tariffs initially announced would be progressing as planned.
The long-held received wisdom that the only way to deal with a bully is to stand up to him has, I would suggest, been corroborated once again. – Yours, etc,
GERRY PRIZEMAN,
Clontarf,
Dublin 3
Boycotting US goods
Sir, – Justine McCarthy urges us to redirect our spending away from American-made products (“A boycott of US goods is not cruel if it hastens Donald Trump’s demise”, Opinion, April 11th).
Shopping must be very challenging for the commentariat and their followers these days given that so many countries get their goat. – Yours, etc,
KARL MARTIN,
Bayside,
Dublin 13
Sir, – I thoroughly agree with Justine McCarthy’s idea of boycotting US goods in favour of European brands – especially Irish brands. I would go one further and wherever possible refuse to sell our own goods to the United States. – Yours, etc,
ANNE STRAHAN,
Bantry,
Co Cork.
Content levies for streamers
Sir, – On behalf of the board of Irish PEN/PEN na hÉireann, we wish to express our support for the position adopted by the Writers’ Guild in favour of the introduction of a content levy on streamers.
Filming is an important element in our economy but Ireland is viewed, primarily, as a filming location and a source of crews. There is a strong case for the development of Irish filmmaking, using the creative skills of our writers and directors, that is underpinned with investment from a content levy. Such a levy targets streamers who benefit from Irish subscribers, but who have no incentive to invest back into the cultural development of the industry here. It is not directed at the taxpayer but at the enormous returns made by streamers.
Patrick O’Donovan, the Minister responsible for arts, media and communications, needs to listen with an open mind to the Irish writers who are working in the film industry and their representatives. – Yours, etc,
LIZ MCMANUS,
PÁDRAIG HANRATTY,
Joint chairs,
Irish PEN/PEN na hEireann.
Alcohol and the Irish nation
Sir, – Dr Tony Holohan pleads for “the facts” of alcohol consumption in Ireland to be accurately represented but then goes on to say that there has been “a modest decline ... in per capita alcohol use” (Letters, April 9th). Perhaps he should take some of his own advice.
According to the World Health Organisation, alcohol consumption per capita in Ireland has dropped from 14.41 pure litres in 2000 to 9.9 litres in 2023, a fall of 31 per cent. This is more than “moderate”, and in fact illustrates a very sharp fall in alcohol consumption over the course of the last generation. The WHO also found in 2018 that alcohol consumption by Irish teenagers had collapsed by 68 per cent in the previous 12 years. Thirty per cent of Irish adults now do not drink at all, up from 25 per cent in the last five years alone.
These facts are “not contestable” (to use Dr Holohan’s phrase) and contrast sharply with the dire prognosis which he offers. Changes in lifestyle, employment patterns, increased health awareness, and dramatic increases in the cost of alcohol have all contributed to this trend.
Supporters of the much-vaunted Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018 never miss an opportunity to praise its impact in recent years, but they completely ignore the fact that it was introduced at a time when alcohol consumption had already been falling steadily for two decades. The only real achievement of that legislation, through its introduction of minimum unit pricing, was to make alcohol much more expensive for consumers on lower incomes and lining the pockets of drinks producers in the process.
Debate on alcohol use in Ireland has long been led by vested interests, but in recent years the power of the vintners’ lobby has been reduced to a shadow of its former self and been replaced by the puritanical zeal of a public health lobby that believes that any and all alcohol consumption is to be frowned on, and that ordinary people who consume even moderate amounts should be punished for this behaviour. – Yours, etc,
BARRY WALSH,
Clontarf,
Dublin 3.
Overreliance on consultants
Sir, – According to Dr Eddie Molloy “there is one risk to Ireland’s future progress that dwarfs even pandemics, terrorism and tariffs” (“Shortfall in public service delivery is threat to future”, Opinion, April 11th). The risk is a dysfunctional Civil Service created in part by an “over-reliance on costly external consultants”.
Without a hint of irony, Dr Molloy is described at the end of the article as an “independent” consultant who has provided support to most government departments and numerous State bodies for more than four decades. – Yours, etc,
SEAN KEAVNEY,
Castleknock,
Dublin 15.
Ryanair carry-on
Sir, – We too have been hit by the more aggressive baggage policy of Ryanair that Conor Pope highlights. In our case we were charged €60 at the gate for a standard Samsonite cabin bag that we have used for years without issue on Ryanair and other flights. The tone of the airline’s response to The Irish Times indicates the need for great consumer protection against airlines.
In our case, our bag not alone fitted into the Ryanair wire measurement frame that the airline now tells Conor Pope is actually bigger than the permitted cabin bag size but was also within the currently permitted size. However, despite three successive emails, we later could not get Ryanair to tell us what they claim the bag measured exactly. To add insult to injury, Ryanair emailed us to say the matter was resolved.
Emails to the Dublin Airport Authority, the Irish Aviation Authority and the Consumer Authority elicited responses indicating that they have no role to play when, at a departure gate, an airline refuses to permit a person to board pending payment of a fee but cannot or will not supply data to support its assertion of a bag being outsize. This is an arbitrary and subjective process that adds to the stress of using Dublin Airport.
I have also been told by staff in the Dublin Airport shops that there is a special arrangement whereby airlines allow on board unchallenged an extra bag of purchases from the airport shops. This gives Dublin Airport a financial incentive not to challenge Ryanair’s behaviour and discriminates against customers using less expensive shops outside the airport.
I have no problem with “no frills” airlines. This feels more like “no respect”. Dublin Airport Authority further allows Ryanair to back up its customers on staircases and even out on the tarmac beside aircraft for considerable periods in what may be hazards to health, safety and security that no major airport should allow. I wonder does the Dublin Airport Authority care how its clients use its customers on its property? – Yours, etc,
COLUM KENNY,
Bray,
Co Wicklow.
Trans healthcare
Sir, – We are writing in response to Genspect (Letters, April 7th).
We in Mammies for Trans Rights absolutely believe in mitigating risk and reducing harm to our young people. We believe this means free, safe, legal and local medical advice and, if necessary, treatment.
Genspect would have us follow the UK, but we believe time will vindicate our position.
Although president Donald Trump has withdrawn the US from the World Health Organisation, we are very clear here that America’s path is not one we want to follow, and modern European governments base their medical care on WHO guidelines.
Yes, we must make society safer for women and girls, including trans women and girls. Yes, we must end gender-based violence. Yes, we must maintain ethical, safe medical care. None of those things are up for debate.
Following international best practice guidelines in healthcare should not be up for debate either. Ireland’s history shows that nothing will be achieved through stigma, moral panic and retreading old ground.
Our history also shows that Love will always win. – Yours, etc,
KAREN SUGRUE,
CLAIRE FLYNN,
BERNIE LINNANE,
JUDE COPELAND,
Mammies for Trans Rights,
Limerick
Parental leave
Sir, – With reference to “Parental leave can be ‘career suicide’ for male employees, conference told”, (April 11th), the only way to resolve this is to make paternity and parental leave mandatory for male employees, so the default caregiving does not fall to women.
After all, isn’t being involved more in care or work-life balance also career suicide for women, who often have no option but to take leave to care for their newborn?
We need to remove the societal taboo around parental leave and acknowledge that it is the most difficult and least appreciated job someone will ever do. Yours, etc,
DR MARIA O’BRIEN
Bayside,
Dublin 13.
