Your letters, your views...

Are Travellers second-class citizens in this country?

With Lucinda Creighton’s new flat rate tax of 23% people on the minimum wage will be worse off! (Irish Examiner, October 6). For years people in this category have been struggling with paying bills, property tax and water charges.

So Eircom has spent €16 million on a new name, the biggest Irish brand relaunch in two decades. It’s chief executive Richard Moate is quoted as saying, “It’s about the future, not the past.”

Last Monday I attended the Claire Byrne Live debate on Irish Water in RTÉ. Even though I have registered with Irish Water I have not paid any bills. However I am not a committed non-payer. 

I took great comfort in reading Ursula Halligan’s article about her sexuality. While her journey is different to mine we are of a similar generation and I can identify with so much of what she wrote especially that she tried to deny her sexuality.

Last week, I attended a meeting here in Galway to set up riverside patrols and prevent drownings. According to the Connacht Tribune newspaper, 67 people have signed up as volunteers, which is positive.

Elaine O’Hara was a troubled woman. Vulnerable and lacking in self-confidence, she was taken advantage of by Graham Dwyer, in order to fulfil his sick fantasies.

Diageo came up with a brilliant idea: use the 250th anniversary of the founding of Guinness to market their products. It was so successful that ‘Arthur’s Day’ became an annual event perhaps as significant in our calendars as St Patrick’s Day.

Last week I attended the Diageo-funded meeting here in Galway as part of their campaign to curb binge drinking. 

In a few weeks time people who have registered their details with Irish Water will receive their first bills. 

Leonard Nimoy passed away last week. 

This week, students in Galway are “celebrating” an unofficial Rag Week. Unofficial, because the students unions in GMIT and NUIG have washed their hands of it since major drink fuelled incidents were connected with it a number of years ago.

This week, students in Galway are “celebrating” an unofficial Rag Week. Unofficial, because the students unions in GMIT and NUIG have washed their hands of it since major drink fuelled incidents were connected with it a number of years ago.

Health Minister Leo Varadker has ‘come out’ as gay. As a gay man, I think this is brilliant. However, a part of me feels sad that his ‘coming out’ (it’s a peculiar expression) has made such headline news. Do heterosexual people ‘come out’?

I can’t help but wonder if Lucinda Creighton will have missed the boat in launching a new political party within the next eight weeks, or was that the launch last week? I’m not too sure.

As we face into the new year, I wish to share my feelings of peace.

I have no problem with people protesting over the water charges.

This World Cup is a treat to watch.

I agree with Doug Lucey in the sentiments he expressed in his letter (June 2) "We need to curb election posters."

My glass is half full.