2 weeks Ago
US president Donald Trump last week proclaimed: “These countries are calling me up, kissing my ass...
they are dying to make a deal...
. ‘Please, please, sir, make a deal, I’ll do anything’.” He then postponed his tariffs on all countries for 90 days, except China.
The EU postponed its retaliation and is preparing to negotiate with Trump. Tánaiste Simon Harris was in Washington last week to discuss the tariffs with the US trade secretary. Many other countries are scrambling to do deals, to kiss Trump’s ass.
If Russia retreated from Ukraine would Ukraine be rushing to do a deal? China has taken a stand against economic aggression and refuses to negotiate with the US bully. It would be more sensible for the EU and all other countries to wait out the 90 days and then decide the response instead of satisfying the bully. Hugh McDermott, Dromahair, Co Leitrim A joy to see letter writers recognised – I hope to see new names on this page I enjoyed reading the article on 10 of the most regular writers to the letters page of your papers (‘Dear Sir’, Sunday Independent , April 13).
I had recognised some of the names, but I hope it does not discourage those regular writers who fall out of the top 10. Last year I started to submit some letters on various topics. I always saw this as a test of my writing style and have learned what makes the cut and what does not.
I like how the editor freely cuts and adjusts for the better of the letter. It’s been a great experience for someone who left school at 15 years of age. I just write what comes into my head and very seldom edit my submissions.
I hope the article encourages some new letter writers and I will be watching out for new names on the letters page. Seamus Joyce, Richmond, London Back-garden builds may suit some, but it’s not the answer to housing crisis The easing of house planning regulations to allow for larger, unattached structures to be built in people’s back gardens is expected to be in place by the end of this year. This move is a bid to ease pressure on the country’s housing supply.
I personally am not a fan of these structures. I think that we should be building apartments and proper houses. It is my opinion that these back-garden structures are a sticking-plaster approach to solving a big issue.
I have no doubt that for a certain cohort these houses will work extremely well. But I believe that these structures won’t necessarily work in very tight urban areas where people have small back gardens. It will work reasonably well for people who have large gardens, depending, of course, on the size of the unit.
It’s envisaged that these units will be smaller than what would be acceptable for an apartment, and that doesn’t seem right. It’s my assertion that once you start seeing these structures being built, it will be hard to roll back on this new phenomenon. However, one may have a situation where one could be halfway through building one of these structures and the planning regulations might change again.
I was especially glad to hear the Government saying that these structures shouldn’t be viewed as a solution to our housing crisis. John O’Brien, Clonmel, Co Tipperary Alcohol warning labels are not a business matter – health is too important Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe stated recently that the Government was to have another look at the introduction of cancer warning labels on alcohol products – something that has already survived rigorous scrutiny and is due to become law next May. It would appear that Ibec has the Government’s ear on this and is convincing in its argument that it would be bad for business, especially with the tariffs being introduced by Donald Trump – an argument that holds no water since the labelling only applies to products sold in Ireland.
Mr Donohoe needs to be reminded of the others who are entitled to be part of the argument – people who consume the alcohol. The purpose of the labels is to make people aware of the connection between alcohol and cancer. It’s not about profit, it’s about people and people’s lives matter.
John Higgins, Ballina, Co Mayo Prince Harry has handed in his notice, he can’t just keep pestering the office Prince Harry is concerned that his “life is at stake” but in reality, as a fading star, most people don’t really care. When I left a workplace all I got was a dodgy present and a speech that presented me as irreplaceable despite the fact that I was quickly replaced. He isn’t doing too badly in his stately property and regular worldwide travel.
If you give up the job you can’t use their photocopier any more. Harry made his own decision to move out, so it’s time to move on. Dennis Fitzgerald, Box Hill, Victoria, Melbourne Jesus’s defiant parody of imperial grandeur not so difficult to picture today Sitting at mass yesterday I reflected that Palm Sunday is often portrayed as a gentle procession with palm branches and hymns.
But the original event was anything but. As Pontius Pilate entered Jerusalem from the west with warhorses and soldiers to enforce Rome’s power, Jesus came from the east on a donkey, surrounded by the poor and powerless – a defiant parody of imperial grandeur. It was not pageantry, but protest.
A confrontation with both empire and religious complicity. Jesus’s kingdom offered not domination, but justice, mercy and truth – and for that, he was crucified. Were it today, Pilate would arrive by helicopter, flanked by media handlers.
Jesus might cycle in with a crowd of nurses, unpaid carers and schoolkids waving signs reading “Blessed are the renters”. The donkey, of course, would be clamped. It’s still a serious week — but we might ask: whose procession are we really in? Enda Cullen, Tullysaran, Armagh Well done for telling the bald truth about men with receding hairlines Regarding Kirsty Blake Knox’s recent article (‘Cancel the trip to Turkey, boys – receding hairlines are back in vogue’, Irish Independent , April 8), baldness is an inevitability for most, but look at it this way, the tide might be out, but the beach is still worth looking at.
Anne Marie Kennedy, Craughwell, Co Galway.
