Sir, – After 23 months of unwavering support for Israel, finally EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen calls for a suspension of the EU-Israel trade agreement (“Ursula von der Leyen proposes suspending EU trade deal with Israel,” September 10th).
While Ms von der Leyen’s statement is a welcome shift, and long overdue, when can we expect the EU leaders and/or foreign ministers coming together to consider Ms von der Leyen’s proposal?
Surely the latest brazen attack by Israel against Hamas negotiators in Qatar, is further demonstration that Israeli prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, has no wish to bring this conflict to a conclusion?
In this show of contempt for international law and norms, EU leaders and foreign ministers must meet with immediate haste to consider and act upon Ms von der Leyen’s proposal.
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While far too late, the EU member states can go some small way to redeeming themselves and possibly forcing the Israeli regime to end their campaign of death, destruction and famine. Bringing economic pressure to bear may be a “red line” even Mr Netanyahu cannot ignore.
We sit and wait in hope that our leaders will finally act, in a way many have sought for far too long. – Yours, etc,
PHILIP BRADY,
Donnycarney,
Dublin 9.
Sir, – How shallow must our Government’s words of condemnation be to the people of Gaza and the people of Ireland as Israel continues to commit genocide and manufactures a famine in real-time before our very eyes.
We still trade with this nation. Our Government still purchases a plethora of goods from Israel.
We still have a diplomatic presence in Israel. We are members of the biggest trading bloc that continues to fund the Israeli onslaught and ironically at the same time issues platitudes through the European Commissioner about economic sanctions on Israel and its political leaders.
When will our political bodies stop shaming our good name and actually sever all links both economically and diplomatically from the perpetrators of the current massacre unfolding in the Gaza Strip? – Yours, etc,
RICHARD RODGERS,
Malahide,
Dublin.
Sir, – Is there no end to Netanyahu’s Israel government’s capacity to outrage the international community under the watch of the US administration?
But the real question is when are the good people of Israel going to stand up to him and his ilk? – Yours, etc,
AIDAN RODDY,
Dublin 18.
Sir, – When you give shelter and succour to terrorist groups who are hell bent on destroying another UN member, you have forfeited the right to have your sovereignty respected.
Qatar has supported and sheltered Hamas just as they sheltered the Taliban regime in Afghanistan.
The United States military neutralised Osama bin Laden even though he was in Pakistan.
Borders should never be fortresses for terrorists. – Yours, etc,
PAUL WILLIAMS,
Kilkee,
Co Clare.
Sir, – The bombing in Qatar is yet another example of Israel’s lack of respect for international law.
Does the EU ignore this afront to the international rules based order or does for once act to support Qatar and throw Israel out of all its associations?
Yours, etc,
PAUL DORAN,
Clondalkin,
Dublin 22.
Dublin Bus steps out
Sir, – May I take this opportunity to commend Dublin Bus for their efforts to encourage a healthy lifestyle.
Waiting at the bus stop in Stillorgan, we watched the GPS sign as the first bus, due in 10 minutes counted down before disappearing.
The second bus (originally 15 minutes) was full to the gunnels and stopped only to let one passenger off. The third and fourth were out of service, while the fifth was again full and didn’t stop.
We managed to squeeze on to the sixth as the driver packed us on to an already crowded bus.
I finally got home about 45 minutes after arriving at the bus stop, with the knowledge that, had I walked the 3km distance, I would have been healthier and arrived home sooner! –Yours , etc,
DAVE ROBBIE,
Booterstown,
Co Dublin.
Putting pressure on blood pressure
Sir, –The report that more than a third of older adults have undiagnosed high blood pressure and almost half have undiagnosed high cholesterol is concerning (“More than third of older adults have undiagnosed high blood pressure,” September 9th).
It is important to note that it is not all bad news. The HSE chronic disease management programme in general practice has had a significant impact on these conditions.
The third report on this programme recently published by the HSE shows 45 per cent of those with high blood pressure on their first visit had normal blood pressure by their third visit and those with high cholesterol had significant reductions also.
However, it is currently only available to those with a medical card or doctor visit card.
The TILDA report reminds us of the need. The chronic disease management programme shows us the solution. – Yours, etc,
DR JOE GALLAGHER,
The Palms GP Surgery,
Co Wexford.
All the president’s men – and women
Sir, –I’m sure I wasn’t the only avid follower of politics who had to Google Jim Gavin’s name when he was first linked with a run for the presidency, and who heard Mr Gavin’s voice for the first time when he spoke to the media yesterday after being selected as the Fianna Fáil candidate.
The bemused expressions on the faces of party TDs and Senators told their own story, and I’m sure a great many voters could empathise with them.
When he announced his support for Mr Gavin last week, the Taoiseach Micheál Martin said that “in this era, he is the person best placed to represent the Irish people as president.”
Given this strong endorsement, can Mr Martin explain why he didn’t ask Mr Gavin to run for even the lowliest local authority position up to now? Why is the presidency – the highest office in the land – the first elected position which has been asked to contest? Are we to seriously believe that the stellar qualities which make Mr Gavin uniquely qualified to be the next president of Ireland only came to Mr Martin’s attention a fortnight ago?
Mr Martin wants to portray his decision to foist a virtually anonymous candidate on his party as an exercise in non-partisan humility. In fact, it seems like a “L’etat c’est moi” type stunt at which even De Valera might have baulked. – Yours etc.,
BARRY WALSH,
Clontarf,
Dublin.
Sir, – If Fianna Fáil really cared about this country, they would propose and support Jim Gavin as manager of the men’s senior soccer team. – Yours, etc,
MÁIRÍN NÍ DHOMHNAILL,
An Cheathrú Rua,
Co na Gaillimhe.
Sir, – Congratulations to Fintan O’ Toole for highlighting the democratic deficit that the likely exclusion of Maria Steen from the ballot paper in the presidential election ( “What the Áras race needs is a candidate I won’t vote for: Marie Steen,” September 8th) .
O’ Toole balances the scales by declaring that while disagreeing with Maria Steen “about most things”, her participation in the abortion, marriage and care referendums provided balance as she faced down credible experienced debaters, just to mention Taoiseach Michéal Martin as one example.
Now that Jim Gavin has declared that he voted for the removal of the Eighth Amendment and supported marriage equality, those of us who voted otherwise have no declared like-minded candidate to vote for.
Maria Steen would fill the democratic vacuum. – Yours, etc,
FRANK BURKE,
Terenure,
Dublin 6.
Sir, – She’s too right, she’s too left and who’s he? – Yours, etc,
PAULA BERMINGHAM,
Dublin 6W.
Sir, – It is remarkable that the personal religion of Heather Humphreys has been highlighted in letters to The Irish Times and indeed printed articles. It would now seem prudent that the personal religion of all nominated candidates for the presidential election are published in order for us to uphold our pluralist and inclusive society. – Yours, etc,
AVRIL KEAVENEY,
Goatstown,
Dublin.
A man of simple taste
Sir, – I laughed at the piece in Conor Pope’s column about the prices in Avoca restaurants (“We may just have found the most expensive egg in Ireland,” Pricewatch, September 8th).
Their spokesman said that at selected sites they offer rhubarb and custard organic porridge, made with premium Irish rhubarb stewed in a compote, combined with organic oats, and topped with their homemade crème patisserie, crafted with Madagascan vanilla pods, fresh Irish cream and a quality mascarpone.
Me? I just have mine with a bit of milk. – Yours, etc,
NED HANLON,
Santry,
Dublin 9.
Theatre texters
Sir, – In response to Siobhra Rush’s question: “Surely there is something the theatre staff can do?” Miss Rush writes: “a woman in front of me received a number of texts on her watch and proceeded to respond to them on her phone,” (Letters, September 9th).
The writer’s question is timely and necessary.
Certainly, there is something the staff can do. This behaviour would not be tolerated at The Shubert Theatre, Broadway, New York, where I worked for ten years. At every performance, an usher (sometimes two) stood at the back of the audience, for the course of the entire show.
If an audience member used a phone, a recording device of any kind, carried on a conversation, etc., the usher would immediately shine/train her flashlight on, for example, seat B29. (Sometimes an audience member might attempt to surreptitiously record a show, to sell later, especially a sought-after show such as Chicago. Their camera was immediately confiscated, the film destroyed.
If a theatre- goer continued to interrupt the show, he or she was asked to leave.
There was no way a star, such as Bibi Neuworth – or any of the actors for that matter, would tolerate distractions of any kind. Miss Neuworth was to be seen on stage two hours before each show, practising her routines – every performance is serious business, and expensive.
At any performance anywhere – and I include Ireland – there should be no, or at least minimal distractions.
I am surprised the performers put up with it.
Get out the flashlight, please. And focus on seat B29. – Yours, etc,
PADDY FITZPATRICK,
Cork city.
Sir, – I can understand Siobhra Rush being distracted by a lady texting while she was attending a recent performance of The Weir
.However, the distraction must have been considerable indeed, seeing that the performance was in the Olympia Theatre and not the Gaiety Theatre where Siobhra thought she was. – Yours, etc,
GERRY FOGARTY,
Dublin 15.
Sir, – Use of a mobile phone in the theatre is unacceptable, no matter how dull the play, as it distracts fellow audience members and must be very dispiriting to the actors on stage.
The more considerate and established response to soporific fare is to allow oneself to take a nap, being careful, of course, not to snore too loudly –Yours, etc,
RONAN McDERMOTT,
Dublin 6.
More than one kind of ‘tradwife’
Sir, – Reading recent correspondence following Fintan O’Toole’s article on “tradwives”, I think there is a misunderstanding by some that they are women who have decided to stay at home in order to raise their children.
I recently watched an interview with the pastors of a church in the US that promotes the tradwife phenomenon. This included one of the pastors being interviewed with his wife.
They both agreed that the wife should be subservient to any decisions made by the husband, including who to vote for in elections.
While the wife can express an opinion when they debate what to do, in the end it is the husband’s decision that is final.
I wondered what the late, great, Nell McCafferty would have made of this regression to the land of Stepford. – Yours, etc,
DANNY BOYD,
Belfast.
Toilet humour
Sir, – With reference to Sean Megahey’s suggestion on improving Dublin, being the provision of public toilet facilities.
We used to have those in Dublin, they were called P&T telephone booths. – Yours, etc.
ROB COUSINS,
Stepaside,
Dublin.
Electricity prices in Ireland
Sir, – Electric Ireland’s recent 4 per cent gas price reduction (“Energia customers facing price hike of up to 12% as business continues search for new owner,” September 10th) is welcome, but it highlights inconsistencies in Ireland’s energy market.
Electric Ireland has cut electricity by 19.3 per cent and gas by 20.4 per cent cumulatively, yet competitors such as Energia and SSE have increased prices by 12 per cent and 10.5 per cent respectively this year.
This is striking given that the 97 per cent State-owned ESB, which owns Electric Ireland, controls much of Ireland’s gas-fired generation, directly influencing wholesale costs.
Current wholesale electricity prices are about €112.72 per MWh, yet households still pay an average of 34.63c per KWh; among the highest rates in Europe.
The familiar explanation that Ireland is a small island with a dispersed population applies equally to all providers, yet price variations persist. Meanwhile, ESB invests billions in Scottish offshore and UK floating wind projects while domestic consumers face volatile and inflated bills.
It is also telling that only about 55 per cent of household charges reflect energy supply, with the remainder going to network and regulatory costs.
Such variations reflect market dysfunction rather than geography. Surely the time has come for an independent investigation into the drivers of Ireland’s energy prices. – Yours, etc,
MICHAEL O’MEARA,
Co Waterford.
