Letters to the Editor: Handpass rule could revive the game of football

Considering the detrimental effect the handpass has had on Gaelic football over those decades why would anybody look anywhere else for a solution?

Keeping it simple and adjusting the rule to one handpass only per phase re-introduces football to the game of football. Therefore “if you get a handpass you can’t give one”.

This will immediately lead to a much more open and dynamic game of football with no hiding place for players who are currently monopolising the handpassing game. Has everyone forgotten the fabulous games of football from our past?

This simple adjustment will fundamentally change the game of Gaelic football as we know it. Unfortunately, its introduction would therefore require a great deal of courage from the GAA as its introduction may have adverse effects on current football seedings. 

Maybe trailing it initially in the winter cup games could be a safer option for the association.

Interestingly, a recent comment on radio from an American lady who took up ladies Gaelic football as an absorption tactic on relocating to Ireland was asked had she found the game difficult, quickly replied “not really as it’s just like basketball”.

So enough of this basketball, let’s play some football or I’ll be tuning in to watch Leeds Rhinos versus London Broncos.

M Ryan, Green Park, Dublin 22

Heat pump failures

Why are domestic heat pump systems so unreliable and costly when the underlying technology is well-established as efficient, reliable, and durable?

Heat pumps use the same components as car air conditioners, fridges, and freezers, which I have experienced functioning for more than 20 years without failing or being serviced. However, within shouting distance of my home, four heat pumps, less than five years old, have been replaced. 

The reason why €10,000 appliances need to be replaced just because a single component fails is very concerning. I have identified 12 heat pump installation violations of building regulations and manufacturers’ instructions in my home. All of which would have cost little or nothing to resolve if they were done right first time. 

These issues have been raised with the SEAI, the CCPC, and the BCMS on numerous occasions and witnessed at three site meetings with directors from the manufacturer, heating consultant, the builder, and officials from Fingal County Council, to no avail. The level of concern shown by these people is appalling.

These violations result in inefficient system operation and early failures at enormous inconvenience, cost and health and safety risks to consumers, who are then being ripped off with exorbitant and exaggerated call-out charges when phone support may resolve what might only be a system reset.

Michael Terry, Lucan, Co Dublin

RTÉ defends Kielty for ‘Traitors’ satire

I was thrilled to learn that RTÉ has defended The Late Late Show host Patrick Kielty for his ‘traitor’ comments after Sinn Féin demanded an apology.

I found it a bit rich to hear this party accusing RTÉ of “electoral interference”. I think it would be true to say that Sinn Féin are themselves doing a great job of sabotaging its own electoral prospects, especially in light of its handling of the recent scandals within its own ranks.

Sinn Féin TD Mairead Farrell was being somewhat polemical on RTÉ radio on Saturday when she was speaking to Colm Ó Mongáin. She demanded an apology from the national broadcaster over Kielty’s comments.

Then she went on to demand that the episode be taken down from the RTÉ Player website.

On Friday’s  The Late Late Show, Patrick Kielty was talking about a new Irish version of the reality TV show The Traitors in his opening monologue and his reference to ‘traitors’ got Ms Farrell rather animated.

May I remind Ms Farrell that Kielty’s comments were satirical and should not be apologised for? If that were to happen, every comedian in the US would be coming out to apologise to Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, et al for their humorous takedowns of these politicians.

This is a stratagem of deflection by Sinn Féin in that they seem to be attempting to redirect some of the chaos and mayhem within their own ranks onto the national broadcaster.

The optics of all this looks rather puerile when juxtaposed with all the recent serious and grave scandals that Sinn Féin has had to deal with recently.

John O’Brien, Clonmel, Co Tipperary

Roll-out of general election roadshows

With the announcement of a general election comes the election roadshow.

Whether we want them or not, we’ll get the leaflets with the record of what they’ve done, but not what they failed to do, the promises of what they will do but not the consequences of when they don’t.

We’ll have the poster roadshow with posters up on all the lamp posts with the smiling faces of politicians beaming down at us in the expectation of success and their good fortune to come, with no hint that they’re thinking of Joe or Jane public and their daily grind.

Then there’s the campaign slogans roadshow: “A lot done more to do”, “an Ireland for all”, “send home the clowns”, and “we needed to get the muppets out” have been replaced with “moving forward together”, “getting the work done”, “our shared future”, “changing Ireland for the better”, and “it’s time for change”.

Maybe it is or isn’t, but ‘to what’ is the burning question.

Then there’s the radio and television roadshows, where questions are asked, but no answers are given, and slinging matches break out casting doubts on the very pedigree of other candidates and their party’s promises.

Finally, we will be subjected to the party political broadcast roadshow, where the party leaders and favoured faithfuls make fervent speeches about fanciful philanderings and finances and what the party has done, will do, and more, to save the country from the clutches of the opposition parties who would cast us into chaos and damnation.

You would be foolish to rely on any of it to make your life choices or make yourself as much as a jam sandwich.

Whatever you do, do vote, but be careful what you wish for.

Kevin T Finn, Mitchelstown, Co Cork