The article features a series of letters addressing various social and political issues.
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Air Travel Tax: Paul O’Shea argues that while Conor Pope views an air travel tax as unfair to island nations, the real issue is that air travel is underpriced relative to its environmental costs. He advocates for higher ticket prices to prompt people to reconsider travel habits.
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Alternative Transportation: Rob Fairmichael suggests that alongside an air travel tax, providing incentives for alternatives like rail and sea travel is essential for realistic travel options.
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Immigration Disinformation: Dáithí Ó Haodha commends Fintan O’Toole for exposing false claims made by Simon Harris about migrants, criticizing the portrayal of immigration as a threat in populist rhetoric.
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German Defence Policy: Raymond Deane defends Catherine Connolly’s comparison of contemporary German defense policy to Nazi militarism, arguing that many Germans are uncomfortable with their government’s recent aggressive stance.
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Political Coaching: Damien Hanlon expresses concern over Ivan Yates providing media coaching to Fianna Fáil, suggesting a diminishing ideological divide between the major political parties in Ireland.
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Legacy of Sister Stan: John O’Brien pays tribute to Sister Stanislaus Kennedy, highlighting her advocacy for the poor and contributions to social justice.
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Economic Concerns: Theo Dillon critiques David McWilliams’ comparison of Ireland’s economy to Argentina and Australia, questioning the sustainability of the Australian model.
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Naval Security: Peter Kelly calls for improved maritime security for Europe, advocating for a joint naval force to patrol the Atlantic, given the limitations of Ireland’s naval capacity.
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Dining Trends: Marion Walsh reminisces about simpler menus, comparing them favorably to today’s more complex offerings.
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Taiwan and Climate Conferences: Guo Bin from the Chinese Embassy criticizes attempts by Taiwan to gain status at climate talks, framing them as political propaganda rather than genuine cooperation.
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Language Learning: Peter Elst counters Michael Deasy’s comments on the Irish language, noting the eagerness of immigrants to learn Gaeilge.
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Therapeutic Standards: Carol Duffy critiques Coru for potentially weakening training standards for therapists by omitting key clinical safeguards, asserting the importance of personal therapy and supervision for competent practice.
Collectively, these letters reflect on pressing social justice, economic, and political issues, emphasizing the need for informed discussion and responsibility.
