Letters

December 2022

Letters to the Editor Opinion It’s right to acknowledge how church was a force for good

John Daly’s article (‘Vatican Pimpernel reminds us that not all priests are bad’, Irish Independent, November 28) was a long-overdue acknowledgment of the good work that has been done by the Catholic Church in making Ireland what it is today – a modern and prosperous country.

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Letters to the Editor Opinion Removing salary caps from bankers will backfire badly

I am in despair. As one of the taxpaying citizens who involuntarily bailed out the Irish banking system, I am now being informed that bankers’ salary caps are being removed and staff bonuses reinstated.

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November 2022

Letters to the Editor Opinion There is no ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to psychiatric treatment

In Sarah Carey’s column (‘TDs would never ignore cardiologists or oncologists, so why dismiss advice given by psychiatrists and endanger patients?’, Irish Independent, November 26) she makes good points in her important article on a report by the Oireachtas sub-committee on mental health titled ‘Pre-legislative Scrutiny of the Draft Heads of Bill to Amend the Mental Health Act 2001’.

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Letters to the Editor Opinion ‘Shadow banking system’ to blame for our housing woes

A former classmate with seven years’ experience of working as a civil servant bought a house in Tallaght in 1977, solely on his own income. The cost was three times his salary. A similar civil servant today needs to be on a salary of €142,000 per annum.

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Letters to the Editor Opinion Why Qatar might actually offer a golden opportunity to understand each other a little better

Tom McElligott is right that the World Cup has exposed our hypocrisy. Qatar has taken important steps in reforming its laws regarding migrant labourers’ rights.

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Letters to the Editor Opinion No need for another JFK in the US as Joe Biden is doing fine

Sir — I disagree with Billy Ryle when he says (last Sunday) that the US could do with a president like John F Kennedy, whose “charisma, heroism and youthful energy provided a breath of fresh air”.

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Letters to the Editor Opinion Fine Gael and Sinn Féin will never govern in coalition as they will always be poles apart

I agree with columnist Frank Coughlan and his line from the 1980s American soap, Dallas, that oil and water don’t mix (‘Why Fine Gael’s water and Sinn Féin’s oil just won’t mix’, Irish Independent, November 22).

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Letters to the Editor Opinion Citizens entitled to exercise their rights on planning issues

Micheál Martin’s latest attempt to deflect criticism of the Government’s failure to tackle the housing crisis is to attack citizens using their constitutional right to raise concerns about proposed developments (‘Stop blocking new housing, Martin tells Nimby objectors’, Irish Independent, November 24).

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Letters to the Editor Opinion Cronyism, cliques and little sign of anything changing

I refer to Fionnán Sheahan’s article on the Sipo investigation of Leo Varadkar and its “nothing to see here” conclusion (‘Far more than meets the eye behind Sipo decision not to investigate Leo Varadkar’, Irish Independent, November 21).

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Letters to the Editor Opinion Writers’ Week has got along fine with crew of volunteers

Some lines about Listowel Writers’ Week, if I may.

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Letters to the Editor Opinion As a truly neutral country, we could act as peace brokers

Ireland may believe itself to be “neutral”, but the restrictions placed on some Irish TDs by Russia tell the real story.

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Leo Varadkar is in no position to criticise Qatar’s human rights record

In an interview on RTÉ’s Week In Politics, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar stated that he would not attend the World Cup finals because of Qatar regime’s civil rights record.

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Letters to the Editor Opinion I built a prison of self-hatred, but religion provided the blueprint

Sir — I am a 30-year-old man and gay. I have only accepted this and told my family and friends very recently because I was so ashamed and hated myself . As a result, I have been thinking a lot about why I was ashamed, and many memories from secondary school came to mind.

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Letters to the Editor Opinion Two warrior women taken too soon, but songs in their memory will evoke their heroic energy

When the news broke that Vicky Phelan had died, I was reminded that music has a way of transporting us.

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Letters to the Editor Opinion Jesus is the only one who can help us overcome evil abuse

The wall-to-wall coverage of the abuse in Holy Ghost Father schools has neglected to mention Jesus Christ, the only one who can bring good out of this evil. Calls for an inquiry, apologies and compensation cannot restore what has been taken away.

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Letters to the Editor Opinion Vicky Phelan’s death is stark reminder of medical negligence

There is widespread regret surrounding the death of Vicky Phelan.

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Letters to the Editor Opinion Memories of the priests of Blackrock College

I recall two interesting memories from my time in Willow Park and Blackrock College in the 1960s. First, I well remember that Fr Senan Corry was in charge of the Legion of Mary in Willow Park, where only very good boys were allowed entry.

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Letters to the Editor Opinion Why I do not remember one happy day of my school life

In the 1950s and 1960s schoolmasters, schoolmistresses, priests, nuns and Brothers in this country assaulted children who weren’t able to keep up with their lessons by slapping them on the hands with a cane.

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Letters Opinion Whole ‘switching’ codology exposed in gutting of ‘hello discounts’

Charlie Weston’s report on the decision by energy companies to slash so-called “hello discounts”, that are used to incentivise households to switch suppliers (‘Energy firms slash switcher discounts by hundreds as best deal plummets from 40pc to 10pc’, Independent, November 12) ), surely only goes to confirm that this “switching” malarkey is, and always has been, a cod.

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Letters to the Editor Opinion I’ll never give up my fight to bring vile abuser to justice

Sir — This is a letter from the 11-year-old boy I once was, 50 years ago. He was a very happy boy. In fifth-class he came second in a singing competition, singing Joe Dolan’s Good Looking Woman. It was the highlight of his life and he decided he was going to be a pop star when he grew up.

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Letters to the Editor Opinion It’s time to ditch our over-reliance on the tech sector and concentrate on traditional industries

With the crises in health and housing, and in the wake of the job layoffs in the big tech sector, is it not high time Ireland put more emphasis on supporting the more traditional industries and trained more doctors, nurses, hospital consultants, blocklayers, plasters, carpenters, plumbers and electricians?

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Letters to the Editor Opinion Bruising encounter that puts dangers of rugby in spotlight

I am not sure if my bruises will be fully healed in time for me to watch Ireland play Fiji in the Aviva stadium tomorrow.

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Letters to the Editor Opinion Clerical abuse was endemic as the church repeatedly hid its shame

Just when you think that the era of clerical sex abuse is over, it inevitably returns to haunt the institutional Catholic Church, re-traumatise its many victims and survivors and scandalise people of faith.

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Letters to the Editor Opinion God forgive us for accepting awful abuse in boys’ schools

I went to Blackrock College in the 1960s, when physical and mental abuse were common. One priest was a tyrant and ruled with fear and a leather strap.

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Letters to the Editor Opinion Human survival must take priority over personal wealth

As COP27 takes place, German chancellor Olaf Scholz has returned from a meeting with president Xi Jinping of China.

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Letters to the Editor Opinion Bold and ambitious policies are badly needed at COP27

Frontline communities are bearing the biggest burden of climate inaction and injustices.

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Dolores O’Riordan’s ‘Zombie’ is perfect antidote to ‘Up The ’Ra’ poison

Sir — It was heartening and poignant to see Zombie by The Cranberries named as Ireland’s favourite song on RTÉ’s Ultimate Irish Playlist.

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Letters to the Editor Opinion Fr Sheehy’s comments show it’s the church that should repent for a lack of love and compassion

I was raised Catholic, and I continue to practise my faith in my own way.

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Letters to the Editor Opinion Many share Fr Seán Sheehy’s view on same-sex marriage and have a right to be heard

Father Seán Sheehy, in his homily at mass in Listowel, clearly explained the teaching of the Catholic Church on certain activities, chosen for attention because these activities are being actively promoted in our society at this time. Watching the video of his homily online, I thought he did a really good job, striking the right balance between warning people they were endangering their immortal souls and reminding them of God’s love and mercy for them.

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Letters to the Editor Opinion Vatican has lost all authority to preach about morality

I am an atheist, but I have read the gospels. I have read them more than once, yet nowhere have I seen any mention of gay people, trans people, people who use contraception or people who have abortions. No mention at all of any of “these people”.