Letters to the Editor: Sarah Harte's column about Gaza was both heartening and heartbreaking 

It was heartbreaking, of course, because the horrific destruction and mass killing still goes on. Among the dead are thousands of children — babies, kids, teenagers — and the people of Gaza are now exposed to hunger and a shortage of medical supplies as well as the bombs and bullets from Israeli forces. To add to their misery, several countries — including the US and Britain — have suspended funding to UNRWA, the most important United Nations humanitarian organisation on the ground, because of unsubstantiated allegations by Israel against a handful of low-level employees. And this at a time of unimaginable need.

As Ms Harte argues, our politicians must listen to the people on the streets and should “speak up loudly and unambiguously” to say “we do not support the mass killing of children and that Joe Biden should call for a ceasefire”. 

Our politicians surely recognise that the US is a co-partner of Israel in this war — and it cannot escape culpability for what is happening. In my view, the visit to the White House should be cancelled.

Fintan Lane, Lucan, Co Dublin

Loss of neutrality

You report that a British think tank has berated Ireland for “freeloading” with regard to defence and security — ‘Ireland accused of ‘freeloading’ off defence investment of others’ (Irish Examiner, online February 4).

The Policy Exchange paper on Ireland’s defence arrangements is hard to stomach for those committed to maintaining Ireland’s neutrality, but its unrestrained analysis of Ireland’s security policy is not unwelcome in that it confirms much of what the defenders of neutrality have long claimed — that the government is inching its way towards Nato membership.

For instance, the report states that Ireland “joined Nato’s Operational Capability Concept (OCC) in 2016, whose goal is to assist non-members in reaching Nato standards, and to foster interoperability. Part of the alliance’s PfP programme, the OCC offers training and evaluations of force capabilities across the domain spectrum, helping them — at least in theory — to meet the standards necessary for future membership.”

The report blurts out a number of other things normally kept hush-hush in Irish establishment circles. Most informative of all — in the section titled “Exert greater pressure on Ireland to do its part in collective security” — is the following statement: “The last few years have shown that some political and social circles in Ireland now understand the important role they must play in their partners’ security. There is therefore no longer any excuse for Ireland not to do its upmost to expedite its military and security development.” Ah, but there is: the majority of people in Ireland do not want what the hawks of Policy Exchange are demanding of us. 

I would venture to suggest, too, that the report’s hectoring — one might even describe it as “imperious” — tone may irk many who read it. Except, of course, those in the “political and social circles in Ireland” that Policy Exchange senses are open to its influence.

Dominic Carroll, Ardfield, Cork

Mahon cycle plans

Regarding the article — ‘Furious residents worried about scale of tree-felling in Cork’s first neighbourhood cycle scheme’ (Irish Examiner, online, February 6): This project is a complete waste of public money. 

There is no need to be digging up footpaths — 90% of which are perfectly fine. The roads around Mahon are wide enough to accommodate cyclists and motorists — also the trees they plan to remove are young, strong, healthy ones that provide shelter and homes for local wildlife. To remove parking from outside people’s homes is a joke; some people will have to park a five to
10-minute walk from their homes. There will be no parking outside local schools, shops, and sports clubs. There is provision for 30 car parking spaces between Ringmahon Rangers pitch and the rugby pitches to be shared when grounds are in use. On any given match day or evening there’s at least 100 to 300 cars outside these sports clubs. 

As a member of one of these clubs, I can reveal that we got no notification about the works or the removal of parking outside our grounds. Since works have started traffic management and health and safety issues around the area are none existent

Tim Murphy, Mahon, Cork

Community benefit

Many of those who are outraged about the Mahon cycle scheme are being misled by Facebook posts and hearsay. 

They hear “cutting down our trees” and “no parking” and instantly, and rightfully, get angry. When they witness immaculate new pavements, safer cycle routes for the local kids, and see how safer and cleaner their community is, I believe many of them will realise that their anger was misplaced. Some say there are no cyclists and the lanes will not be used. 

I think when we have the good weather for it we will see them being used plenty. The cycle lanes will also encourage people to use them.

Kieran O’Sullivan, Mahon