Letters to the Editor: Assessment proposal will undermine integrity of Leaving Cert exam

It is not suitable, in the proposed new senior cycle, biology, chemistry, and physics specifications, where skills are to be assessed indirectly, via a laboratory-based research report, as the report may not be entirely the student's own work and could even be partially or fully generated by AI.  In other words, it is open to cheating.

This allocation of 40% of marks, is too much. The Irish Science Teachers Association recently presented research on how artificial intelligence could be used to produce such a laboratory-based research report and found that it could be awarded most of the 40% of marks after just a few minutes work.

This one-size-fits-all model for the senior cycle AAC will significantly disadvantage the honest student and inadvertantly encourage students to engage in unethical behaviour.

Minister, please reconsider this one-size-fits-all policy. 

John Conneely, An Spidéal, Galway

Heed the Pope’s call on Israel’s genocide

In a just-published book of papal interviews by Hernán Reyes Alcaide, Hope Never Disappoints — Pilgrims Toward a Better World, Pope Francis has finally nailed his colours to the mast by suggesting that Israel’s daily murderous attacks against civilians in Gaza might be termed genocide and has called for an international investigation into this allegation.

While cynics may write off such a request as inconsequential, the fact
remains that, as the leader of the largest religious group in the world and one of the world’s most high-profile leaders, his genocide call will help to break the silence of the leaders of the international community as they either actively arm Israel or just sit on the fence and not ruffle Israel’s bloody feathers.

As ruler of the the Vatican state, he should now take a further step forward and join South Africa’s petition to the International Court of Justice for
Israel’s attack on the people of Gaza to be officially declared a genocide.

Brendan Butler, Drumcondra, Dublin

Phase out State funding of greyhound racing

We, the undersigned, are writing to ask the political parties who will form the government of the next Dáil to phase out State funding to the greyhound racing industry.

Five years have passed since RTÉ Investigates exposed the sordid underbelly of this highly questionable industry in its ‘Running for Their Lives’ documentary. In the intervening years, attempts by the industry to clean up its act have met with little success.

Information taken from their own traceability system shows that thousands of dogs continue to die and go unaccounted for every year. Yet the money keeps pouring in from the government.

The recent budget saw the fund increase by 4.3%, bringing the 2025 allocation to €19.8m. During the lifetime of this government, greyhound racing has received €94m.

Indeed, since the legislation underpinning the State funding of greyhound racing was enacted in 2001, a staggering €368m of taxpayers’ money has been given to the greyhound racing industry.

This at a time when animal rescues are at breaking point and facing closure due to severe shortage of State funding.

From an economic perspective, the greyhound industry is completely unviable. It has not paid a dividend to the State in over 25 years. Simply put, without the annual government handout, it couldn’t survive.

In addition, its claim to be a significant employer does not stand up to even a cursory examination. Public support for greyhound racing has collapsed. Footfall at the tracks is in freefall. Last year, greyhound tracks were 70-91% empty, with many punters being given free entry in order to boost numbers.

The exploitation and abuse of the dogs used by this industry is ongoing. Greyhounds are routinely euthanised on the track as a result of injuries incurred while racing. In fact, so accepted and so common is this occurrence that most if not all the stadiums have freezers on their premises for dead dogs.

We have seen footage recently of Irish greyhounds exported to Pakistan and India, being forced to chase speeding motorbikes in organised road races in boiling hot temperatures. It should be noted that India and Pakistan have little or nothing in the way of laws to protect the welfare of animals.

A recent survey of 1,000 people in this country found that 70% are opposed to the use of taxpayers’ money to keep this industry afloat.

We urge those who are seeking to be part of the next government to respect the wishes of the clear majority of the Irish people and bring to an end the public funding of greyhound racing.

Lenny Abrahamson, film director; Frances Black, senator/singer; Mary Coughlan, singer; Cathy Davey, singer/songwriter;
Neil Hannon, singer/songwriter; Pauline McLynn, actor/author; Linda Martin, singer; Liam Ó Maonlaí, musician/singer;
Susan O’Neill, singer; Camille O’Sullivan, musician/singer; Sharon Shannon, musician; Pete Wedderburn, veterinary surgeon/ISPCA board chairman; Holly White, chef

Problem gambling and greyhound racing

The Irish betting company Boylesports started this week by declaring its support for Safer Gambling Week, an event organised in response to the epidemic of gambling addiction currently sweeping Ireland. It will end it by sponsoring the showcase event (the Derby) for an activity whose sole raison d’etre is to generate content for the gambling industry — greyhound racing.

Boylesports is not alone in giving with one hand and taking with the other.

Members of the outgoing government never miss an opportunity to express their concern every time a new report is published documenting the growing problem of gambling addiction and the awful damage it leaves in its wake.

Yet these same people have given €94m of taxpayers’ money to Greyhound Racing Ireland the Irish Greyhound Board in the lifetime of this government.

Politicians may not like to admit it, but this annual handover of exchequer funding to the greyhound industry amounts to indirect subsidisation of he Irish gambling industry — and not just the gambling industry here. Since 85% of the greyhounds raced in the UK are imported from Ireland, the Irish taxpayer is also effectively supporting the UK betting industry.

This is not how taxpayers’ money should be spent, and 70% of the population agree on this. Thousands of greyhounds disappear every year and you can ‘bet’ that they died. I’d put money on it. We need the funding to stop.

Joan Burgess, Friars Walk, Cork

Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael may dump the Greens

One gets the feeling that Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are trying to dump the Greens.

I don’t think that this would be a bad thing for the Greens. It would be true to say the Greens today are at a low point. They had a very difficult time in the local and European elections.

They had a great day five years ago when they came back with 12 TDs.

It’s my contention that if they come back with six TDs after this election, they would be doing quite well.

Having six Green TDs would in my view put them in the frame to be potential coalition partners but obviously with a reduced mandate which would reduce their effectiveness.

I don’t think it’s necessarily a bad thing for the Green Party to be cut loose by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. They can always say to the electorate that, while in government, they wanted to get things done apropos to their green agenda but that they had to drag the other two along with them.

When all is said and done, the above narrative might not be such a bad sales pitch to the voters out there.

John O’Brien, Clonmel, Co Tipperary

Ban plastic

Plastic should be banned. It has polluted every corner of the earth.

The way rich companies are allowed to get away with this pollution speaks of the decadence of the West, and the way money is god.

Geraldine Prendiville, Co Meath