Letters to the Editor: MEP arms vote shows FG hypocrisy

'Sinn Féin’s Lynn Boylan has slammed Fine Gael MEPs for recently voting against stopping the EU selling weapons to Israel.' Picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins

Karol Balfe, of ActionAid Ireland, reminds us yet again the increasing indifference by political leaders to the mass killing of civilians in Gaza by Israel and the military IDF (‘Continual massacre in Gaza lays bare shameful global political failure’, Irish Examiner, April 8).

Sinn Féin’s Lynn Boylan has slammed Fine Gael MEPs for recently voting against stopping the EU selling weapons to Israel, stating: “It is utterly appalling that the Fine Gael MEPs voted against stopping the EU from continuing to sell weapons to Israel.

“Day and night, we see the very real human cost of Israel’s ruthless genocide in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon. Yet, Fine Gael MEPs have voted for the EU to arm this genocide.”

Fine Gael, as we know, is always very quick to criticise Sinn Féin on their links to the Provisional IRA and that they “can’t be trusted”.

What’s happening in Gaza at the moment makes the 30 years of The Troubles look increasingly minor through the lens of time.

Instead, we are seeing from the broken promises of this Government — from the Occupied Territories Bill to student grants — the downright hypocrisy of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil.

What will it take for this cowardly coalition to take on the Wicked Witch of the West before thousands more of little Palestinian children are systematically extinguished before our eyes from the face of the Earth?

Tom McElligott Listowel, Co Kerry

We can’t hesitate to censure Israel

Regarding the killing of 15 rescue workers in Gaza: How many more red lines need to be crossed before the international community collectively wakes up and acts to stop the war crimes happening in Gaza?

Is the death toll of tens of thousands of innocent civilians not enough evidence that war crimes continue to be committed by a disproportionately vengeful Israeli regime? How many more innocent people need to die in horrific circumstances before the “civilised” Western nations say enough is enough. As the US has gone rogue, nothing rational can be expected from there, so the incontrovertible moral onus is on Europe, both EU members and non members, to take immediate action to strongly censure the Netanyahu administration for their international law breaking in the decimation of Gaza.

Why are we so hesitant to do this? Is the EU too influenced by a still guilt-ridden and morally confused Germany to see that, though we should remain absolutely rigorous against any rise in global antisemitism, we should also absolutely not grant the current egregious Israeli administration impunity to commit war crimes in Gaza and the West Bank?

Our own Government needs to urgently lobby the EU leadership, Ursula von der Leyen and Kaja Kallas to take immediate action to stop the killing in Gaza.

Cynthia Carroll, Newport, Co Tipperary

Wishing Richard Boyd Barrett a speedy recovery

I’m very sorry to hear that Richard Boyd Barrett has had a cancer diagnosis and will be undergoing treatment for the next number of months.

Richard is a man of principle in politics and a sincere advocate for the disadvantaged in society.

His leadership will also be missed at this time when it is imperative that the entire left wing in the Dáil put their differences aside, uniting behind an agreed candidate to take on the political establishment in the upcoming presidential election. I wish Richard well in his treatment, and I look forward to seeing him back in action in the Dáil when it is completed.

John Glennon, Hollywood, Co Wicklow

Why bring back the dodo?

Scientists have recreated the American dire wolf using DNA from a tooth and a bone, but why?

The wolf is of no specific value in the environment and is, or will be, a dangerous wild animal.

Scientists are always trying to make the world a better place but, on the other side, there are numerous movies and conspiracy sites that show the problems that scientists could cause. Fortunately, the movies are fictional and the conspiracy sites are farcical.

With the world’s problems — the climate, food production, pollution, and more — it might be best to skip returning animals that nature, sometimes with the help of humans, allowed to disappear.

When we are all safe, healthy, well-fed, educated, and sheltered, then scientists can bring back the dodo and the T-rex — but maybe not the megalodon. As a retired science teacher, I want my ex-students to see the great achievements that I told them science could produce rather than a few lost animals.

Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne, Australia

Drones could help in fire response

When we see the start of the destruction by fire of our natural environment, as we have seen this week in our forests and natural habitats, one wonders why the penny hasn’t dropped that the use of drones would make the response time better to tackle fires before they get out of hand.

Local authorities should be using these relatively cheap monitors to see smoke rising from areas, before they reach the stage that makes it very difficult to handle by our relatively small fire fighting equipment.

Joe Standen, Bantry, Co Cork

IHRA antisemitism definition no issue

The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism explicitly states that criticism of Israel “similar to that levelled against any other country cannot be regarded as antisemitic”. The definition is legally non-binding, and cannot legally be used to restrict free speech. If so used, the error is in the application — not in the definition.

Kenneth Stern has not distanced himself from the definition he helped draft; rather he has specifically critiqued its use, particularly in academic settings, as a tool to restrict free speech.

Applied properly, the IHRA definition is useful in identifying and recording incidents of antisemitism. The Government should be commended for endorsing it, along with the global guidelines on countering antisemitism, as part of a national plan against racism.

Teresa Trainor

It’s always location, location, location

Regarding the Joe Duffy Liveline show (April 7), which entirely focussed on the proposed new Wolfe Tone private cemetery at Bodenstown, I wish to express my astonishment to hear that burial plots are being sold by a private company — with prices dramatically increasing the closer that the plot is in relation to Tone.

A solicitor named Setanta, who claimed to have been tasked by the owners to represent them on the show, repeatedly denied that the company was engaged in marketing the name and legacy of Tone.

Yet, under questioning, he went on to admit that the sole reason why some plots were priced at €6,000 and others at over €15,000 was their proximity to the grave of our great patriot. These plots wouldn’t be larger, or include a headstone, kerbstone or any frills at all, Setanta said. The only reason for the extra price gouging was that they lay a few metres closer to “the national monument” that is his grave. One wonders that if people wish to be closer to the founder of Irish republicanism, then they should be closer while living by example in deeds and not when dead by proximity through purchase.

Pat Ó hÍomhair, Ballinteer, Dublin

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