Letters to the Editor: Retention of triple lock should be a general election issue

Emeritus Professor John Maguire writes that Ireland must resist attempts to unpick the triple lock which requires UN authority for more than 12 Irish troops to deploy abroad
Letters to the Editor: Retention of triple lock should be a general election issue

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One issue which might be obscured by election fever is the coalition parties’ shared intention to unpick the “triple lock”, which requires UN authority for more than 12 Irish troops to deploy abroad.

An issue surely for Dáil Éireann, which appointed them in 2020 on a programme reaffirming the triple lock — but more fundamentally for all of us as citizens.

We passed the Nice and Lisbon treaties, both in an arrogantly imposed “rerun”, on the basis of solemn promises to maintain it.

Unpicking the triple lock by legislation rather than a referendum would breach those solemn promises, damaging a carefully-articulated constitutional order.

All executive and judicial powers derive from the people, who retain the “final appeal” on “all questions of national policy” (Article 6).

Even after Tánaiste Micheál Martin’s consultative forum, widely criticised for bias and exclusivity, the chairperson had to report “there was not a consensus” on the proposal.

Spelling out the triple lock was never some kindly concession from Government: It has been implicit since we joined the UN in 1955.

The UN Charter, itself a document of international law, commits us “to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war” and lays down how this currently must be approached.

Nato’s so-called rules-based international order, hijacking the UN Charter, comes across as Western imperial meddling.

Ireland’s remaining moral capital should even now redirect our energies to pursuing reform through the General Assembly.

Our acquiescence in EU/Nato developments has helped diminish the UN’s authority, as cruelly revealed in the Middle East.

Israel openly insults it at the Security Council and, in Lebanon, threatens our Blue Helmets serving with one of the few remaining UN-directed peacekeeping operations.

The UN Secretary General warned last September’s General Assembly: “The world is becoming unhinged … and we seem incapable of coming together to respond.”

Surely, at this of all times, we must preserve the simple expression of our obligation to obey, and where necessary work to improve, genuine international law?

We have good reason to quiz all candidates on the triple lock, and press all political parties to include its retention — and, if necessary, its reinstatement — in their manifestos.

John Maguire, Professor of Sociology Emeritus, UCC, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4

Addicts will die without supports

Regarding Sarah Horgan’s article — Cork’s ‘no-go’ streets: How safe is the city centre?, Irish Examiner, October 29 — The addiction services in this country are non-existent, the people who are genuinely homeless and struggling with addiction have little to no hope.

I have three addicts in my close family who would probably be on the streets without support from the family.

The justice system is a revolving door in this country, no good for people who are genuinely sick with the disease of addiction.

Most people I know have been through the services available for addiction and still suffer today.

There is no proper support and most of our addicts will die on the streets if this does not change.

Trisha O’Callaghan, Cork

Research into psychedelic drugs

I found it intriguing to learn that Trinity College recently hosted Ireland’s first psychedelic research conference.

It seems that the purpose of this conference was to highlight the advances in psychedelic-assisted therapy that have occurred over the last number of years.

This conference also saw the soft launch of the Psychedelic Research Group in Trinity College, in conjunction with Irish doctors who are advocating for access to the treatment. It’s important to remember that a lot of the drugs that were spoken about at this conference are illegal at the moment unless they are being used in a trial situation under very strict conditions.

 However, there is mounting evidence in clinical trials to say that these drugs could be of therapeutic benefit for people with mental health conditions as well as addictions. It’s important to note that trials of this nature are conducted in very rigorously-controlled environments with psychotherapy.

There are structured follow-ups to ensure people are safe after taking these drugs. It’s important to remember that these interventions are being used for mental health conditions and it’s under the guidance of qualified professionals. 

There is a contentiousness on the part of some experts who believe that these psychedelic drugs are overhyped treatments for mental health problems that may fail to deliver on their promises.

I am glad to glean that there is some resistance and a healthy scepticism to this avant-garde treatment. I would imagine it’s far too early to predict the efficacy of these drugs. However, it is always good to at least consider the benefits they might provide for some people.

The researchers were at pains to say that these drugs are only used in treating certain types of mental health issues. The message that is coming from these experts is that some people shouldn’t take psychedelics and would not be suitable for such a treatment.

It could be argued that psychedelics have come a long way since their hallucinogenic hippy days.

However, the question as to whether the magic of these drugs will one day transmogrify psychiatry is a debate for another day.

John O’Brien, Clonmel, Co Tipperary

Endangered hedgehogs

In my youth, hedgehogs were in abundance in our area and I spent many a night with our father’s flashlamp out looking at them at the foot of the lawn (‘Fears for hedgehog numbers spikes as it faces risk of extinction’, Irish Examiner, October 28).

But, this past 15 odd years, there’s not a hedgehog to be seen. It is sad to see our nocturnal animals in decline.

Patrick Rooney, Donegal

Hedgehogs in New Zealand

Hedgehogs may be endangered in western Europe, but European settlers introduced hedgehogs into New Zealand a long time ago and they have established very well here. They are considered an introduced pest, because they are a threat to New Zealand’s native fauna. 

So, although they may be endangered in western Europe, worldwide there should be no concern for their numbers unless those countries get very successful in eradicating the hedgehogs.

I guess those countries would welcome attempts in repatriation.

Rouke Bakker, New Zealand

Free State murder

I fully agree with Dudley Potter (Irish Examiner Letters, October 26) when he said that the killing of Dick Barrett by the infamous Free State Government on December 8 1922 “was plain murder and we should call it for what it was”.

It is generally accepted that there was no justice involved here, as with so many other atrocities carried out by our first Government. It was indeed a pity that Micheál Martin did not agree.

Liam Burke, Dunmore, Co Kilkenny

An inability to live with neighbours

Israel seems to be about the only country in the world that does not get on with its neighbours, being at war with them for as long as I can remember. Having squeezed the population of Palestine into the Gaza enclave, it was inevitable that there would be some sort of reaction, which came last October with the massacre of hundreds of settlers and the taking of hostages.

The over-reaction of the Israeli army in killing over 40,000 men, women, and children in Gaza and starving the survivors has rightly been condemned by the UN and most of the peace-loving countries.

Now the Israeli parliament has voted to ban the United Nations Relief and Works Agency from operating in Israel. 

The recent extension of the war to Lebanon and now Iran has notched the situation up a gear, and we ask what will happen next?

The Arab world’s view is that their noses have been well and truly rubbed in it by the USA’s surrogate actions, using the Israeli army as its willing weapon of mass destruction. Retaliation would seem to be the inevitable consequence. I fear that perhaps a nuclear dirty bomb could be smuggled into and exploded in some city in Israel or the US to start World War III. And the world could stand by and do nothing until it was too late. All because a people cannot live in peace and harmony with their neighbours.

Bobby Carty, Templeogue, Dublin 6W

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