Letters to the Editor: Seanad Éireann is for independent voices

If an agreement has been reached between Leo Varadkar, Micheál Martin, and Eamon Ryan that their TDs and senators will vote for a Green Party candidate now, perhaps the media predictions of a foregone conclusion are fair.

However, up to and during the High Court hearing of Heneghan v Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government in March 2021, the current Government argued that elections for the so-called vocational panels in the Seanad are indirect elections and that councillors, TDs, and senators vote on behalf of citizens. The argument went, if citizens want certain people elected to the Seanad, all we have to do is talk to our councillors, TDs, and senators, and they should vote accordingly in Seanad elections.

In theory — the current Government’s own theory — citizens should engage with the pool of 218 TDs and senators who are eligible to vote now and tell them who we wish for them to vote for. The alternative is that Seanad elections are not indirect elections, reflecting the will of the people, despite what the Government argued in the High Court three years ago.

I would urge everyone to contact the 218 TDs and senators who will be voting in the Seanad by-election in the coming weeks — I certainly will be doing so.

Seanad Éireann is for independent voices, not for party politics and would-be TDs — a fact implicitly acknowledged and supported by the Green Party in its 2020 election manifesto endorsement of Seanad reform proposals. I look forward to seeing a new, independent senator join the Upper House of the Oireachtas and join others in pushing for long-overdue implementation of the Seanad reform proposals presented by the Seanad Reform Implementation Group.

Tomás Heneghan, East Wall, Dublin 3

Record bank profits

AIB has just reported record profits of €2bn for 2023 in a country of just over 5m souls. The bank, its peers, and champions would probably insist that its profits and our housing crisis are unrelated.

That assertion cannot withstand even the most basic scrutiny,  but we cannot seem to — or find the belief to — remake our systems so the great majority of our citizens might be beneficiaries of our banking system, rather than cannon fodder for those who control credit and by extension house prices. 

It is, of course, far easier to identify the problem than it is to offer a viable solution, but something has to change unless we are prepared to watch our children become modern serfs at the mercy of institutional landlords and insatiable banks.

Jack Power, Inniscarra, Co Cork

Weapons allowed in Irish airspace

The report that almost 1,200 flights carrying weapons were allowed through Irish airspace last year is disturbing — " Fears weapons flown via Irish skies being used in Gaza" ( Irish Examiner, March 6) — and it is scarcely surprising that questions are being raised about the ultimate destination of the weapons.

It would be outrageous if these flights were transporting munitions used in the mass slaughter of civilians in Gaza, but it seems the Irish State allows these through if they are American in origin.

For decades, anti-war advocates have highlighted the egregious breach of Irish military neutrality at Shannon airport.

According to your report, 258 aircraft carrying munitions were allowed to land and leave the airport last year. Do we know what was on board these planes? Did they carry equipment later used by Israel in Gaza?

However, regardless of whether munitions intended ultimately for Israel are being moved through Shannon, the US army's presence at the airport should be ended. It is a blatant infringement of Irish military neutrality.

Moreover, the US is directly involved in the slaughter in Gaza — providing essential backing for the rogue state of Israel. Famine has now become an additional nightmare for Palestinian civilians, with young children dying of malnutrition, but US-supplied bombs and missiles continue to rain down from the skies. US president Joe Biden still refuses to demand a permanent ceasefire, instead using the US veto to block calls for this on the UN Security Council.

Ireland should not be facilitating the US war machine in any manner whatsoever, but especially not now with the horror we see in Gaza.

Fintan Lane, Lucan, Co Dublin

Clean up Cork city

I completely agree with Michael Moynihan’s comments in his column last week — " I think I’ve found the person to champion Cork and arrest decline" ( Irish Examiner, March 7) — and with his previous comments on the sad visual condition of Cork city.

Restoring/replacing derelict buildings is an absolute must, but while waiting for such improvements, at least the city streets must be power washed and kept clean — likewise all public seating. Litter bins also need to be kept from overflowing and kept in clean and presentable condition.

Michael O’Riordan, Rochestown, Cork

Ten times tablets

The priest at our Mass last Sunday was reflecting on the Ten Commandments. "Audience participation" suggested that many people, myself included, would have difficulty reeling off the ten.

Moses, and indeed the late Charlton Heston would not be amused.

Tom Gilsenan, Dublin 9

Play our tune, RTÉ

I remember from my youth (I am just over a year short of my 90th birthday) an old saying: "He who pays the piper calls the tune."

The Irish people, through the minister for communications, pay the RTÉ piper and so, the minister is designated by us, the people, to make RTÉ dance to our music.

Cal Hyland, Rosscarbery, Cork

Stop the genocide in Gaza

On February 29, a terrible, landmark was reached: 30,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israel in its war on the people of Gaza. Among them at least 13,000 children, with thousands more buried under the rubble.

As hundreds of aid trucks line up at the Rafah crossing, blocked entry by Israel, the majority of the population in Gaza is at risk of famine. Gaza is seeing the worst level of child malnutrition anywhere in the world, one child in every six under the age of two is acutely malnourished and children are dying from hunger and dehydration every day.

On February 29, as they queued up for food for their families, at least 112 Palestinians were killed and 760 wounded after being shot by Israeli forces near Gaza City. These are unconscionable crimes against already traumatised, displaced, and bereaved people.

In its provisional order on January 26, the International Court of Justice found South Africa’s submission that Israel has committed acts that violate the Genocide Convention plausible and ordered it to take action to prevent genocidal violence by its armed forces, “prevent and punish” the incitement to genocide, and ensure that humanitarian aid to Gaza is increased.

It is clear that, without sanction, Israel will continue to violate all norms of international law and of humanity and more Palestinian lives will be destroyed. The Irish Government has the legislation and must act, history will judge those who could intervene but chose not to during this genocide.

Zoë Lawlor, chairperson, Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Dublin 1

Recycling rejected

I have tried to recycle every bottle I have been charged the "deposit" tax on using the new machines.

Out of 27 bottles, all but two were rejected, so I wasted my time all for 30c.

Initially, I was in favour of the scheme — but no more. I don’t have the time to waste messing with a faulty scheme.

Pete Lobb, Donegal