The Irish Times view on young people and democracy: increasing disenchantment
Some 57 per cent of young people still prefer democracy to any other form of government – support is highest in Germany at 71 per cent, lowest in Poland at 48 per cent – but, ominously, 21 per cent say they would favour authoritarianism under some circumstances.
Only half of young people in France and Spain believe that democracy is the best form of government, the study found. And among those who see themselves as politically to the right of centre and feel economically disadvantaged, support for democracy sinks to just one in three. Forty-eight per cent – and 61 per cent in Germany – worry that the democratic system in their own country is endangered.
The survey of 6,700 young people by YouGov was carried out for the German TUI Foundation. It did not include Ireland.
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Political polarisation is deepening, manifested most clearly in the rise of populist parties: 19 per cent now identify with the right, up a quarter since 2021, 33 per cent with the centre, and an unchanged 32 per cent with the left. Sixteen per cent claim no label.
The survey also found a widening gender divide, with women, in particular in Germany, France and Italy reporting increasing support for progressive views while young men, notably in Poland and Greece, have swung to the right.
The poll also found 73 per cent of British young people want the UK to rejoin the EU.
The growing alienation from politics and political institutions reflects the sense among young people that the system has failed them and that their parents' generation has abanoned them. The survey is a timely, important warning that doing things in the old way will not be enough.
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Irish Times
4 hours ago
- Irish Times
Letters to the Editor, July 8th: On equipping the Defence Forces, Botox, and replacing the president
Sir, – Conor Gallagher's gripping account of Operation Piano captures not only the most audacious Irish Defence Forces mission in decades, but also a quiet truth: Irish sailors, soldiers and Air Corps crews perform extraordinary feats despite systemic neglect (' Hizbullah and Iran suspected of involvement in MV Matthew smuggling operation ,' July 5th.) The daring interdiction of the MV Matthew amid Storm Agnes – with Army Ranger Wing operators rappelling on to a moving vessel in heavy swells, a lone helicopter pressed into service, and a single Naval Service ship shouldering the entire mission – should have been impossible. That it succeeded is testament to the skill, courage and sheer determination of those involved. Yet this triumph must not blind us to the wider reality. These are forces running on fumes: unable to put more than one ship to sea at a time, reliant on overstretched crews, battling chronic equipment, and recruitment and retention crises. READ MORE Ireland's neighbours know it. So, too, do malign actors, from drug cartels to Russian surveillance ships lurking near undersea cables vital to the global economy. Operation Piano should not just be a proud moment; it is a chance to inspire a new generation to serve. But recruitment campaigns must be matched by serious investment: competitive pay, modern equipment and political commitment. And let's be clear: building a modern, capable military does not compromise Ireland's traditional neutrality – and it shouldn't. This is not an 'either/or' choice; it's an 'and'. The success of this mission should galvanise a grown-up conversation about Ireland's place in an increasingly dangerous world. – Yours, etc, DAVID SWEENEY, Washington DC, United States. University fees increase proposal Sir, – I'm writing as a 51-year-old mother of three, full-time worker, taxpayer and voter, to express my deep frustration and disappointment at the Government's plan to increase third-level college fees back up to €3,000. Like so many others in my generation, we have raised our children without a modicum of State support beyond the basic children's allowance. We paid full whack for everything: childcare, creche, GP visits, dentists, school books, uniforms – you name it. There was no Early Childgood Care and Education scheme when we needed it, no free GP care, no tax reliefs worth mentioning. We paid full stamp duty on our first home, we've paid PRSI and USC since it was introduced, and we've continued to pay high income taxes throughout. We didn't qualify for any grants. No Susi. No back-to-school allowance. No medical card. Nothing. And we didn't complain – we worked hard and got on with it, trusting that at some point we'd see a bit of recognition or support. That recognition finally came in the form of the ¤1,000 reduction in college fees. It was the only tangible help we've received in 22 years of raising children. And now, just as quickly, it's being taken away. We have two children in college right now. We pay for everything – fees, rent, food, transport – and we are doing it on after-tax income with no financial assistance. It is demoralising in the extreme to be told, in effect, that once again our cohort doesn't matter. We've done everything 'right' by the State and have been left holding the bag at every stage of our parenting journey. I urge the Government to seriously reconsider the reversal of this small but meaningful relief. For many of us, this isn't just about money – it's about fairness, dignity, and the principle that people who have contributed so much to this country should not be punished for quietly getting on with things without ever asking for help. I speak not just for myself, but for countless friends, colleagues, and neighbours who feel just as let down. – Yours, etc, ANNE KEANE, Cork. Sir, – How many actual, or potential, university students spent far more than the previously allowed €1,000 reduction in fees that is not being given this year on holidays in Spain or Greece this summer? – Yours, etc, EAMONN DILLON, Farranshone, Co Limerick. Awarding HSE contracts Sir, – I find it troubling to reconcile the recent revelations concerning the HSE, specifically, that current and former employees have acted as directors of a limited company engaged in multimillion euro contracts with the very organisation they serve or once served. Having spent years in the private sector, I can perhaps just about understand how ex-employees might find themselves in such a position, though even that raises questions. But the notion that active employees of the HSE could be involved in awarding or benefiting from such contracts is, quite frankly, inconceivable. This situation raises an obvious and urgent question: were those responsible for managing these tenders, whether within the HSE or acting as its agents, fully aware of the employment relationships involved? If not, why not? If they were, even more serious concerns arise. In an era when regulatory compliance, ethical standards, and fitness and probity have been significantly tightened, it is difficult to imagine how these transactions could meet the standards required of public bodies. A full, independent inquiry is not just warranted, it is essential. – Yours etc, DAVID CASSIDY, Griffith Avenue, Dublin 9. Turner, take a bow Sir, – I dislike cartoons largely because they leave me unmoved. Your cartoon (July 5th), about environmental damage jumped off the page for me. Martyn Turner, take a bow for grabbing my attention and telling me so persuasively about costs to the exchequer, the planet and US workers' predicament, no less. – Yours,etc, BERNADETTE BARRINGTON, Dublin 12. Mission impossible Sir, – After President Michael D Higgins vacates the office of Uachtaráin na hÉireann I suggest the position be stood down as a suitable candidate to replace him is an impossibility. – Yours, etc, DEREK HENRY CARR, Mountjoy Square, Dublin 1. Sir, – In order to alleviate the lethargic approach to our upcoming presidential election, why don't we do what they did in the US and vote for a monarch? – Yours, etc, DAVID CLEERE, Co Wexford. Nurses and injecting Botox Sir, – In response to the recent letter claiming that nurses are authorised to independently administer botulinum toxin under the direction of a doctor, I must clarify the legal position. On one point, we can agree: the law has not changed (Letters, July 4th). Under current Irish law, botulinum toxin-classified as a prescription-only medicine (POM) – may only be prescribed and administered by a registered medical doctor or dentist. A nurse may administer toxin only after a doctor has conducted a face-to-face consultation, assessed the patient, and formally delegated the procedure to a staff nurse within their clinical team. This is not equivalent to autonomous practice. Botox is not a cosmetic product – it is a potent neuromodulator requiring clinical oversight. In cases of adverse events such as infection, anaphylaxis, or ptosis (drooping eyelid), timely intervention with prescription medication is critical. Only a qualified prescriber can provide this level of care. Ireland, unlike many of our EU counterparts, continues to allow ambiguity in this sector. Most European countries sensibly restrict aesthetic medical procedures to doctors and dentists and formally recognise aesthetic medicine as a medical speciality. We would do well to follow their example to protect patient safety and professional standards. – Yours, etc, Dr SEAN FITZPATRICK, President of the Irish College of Aesthetic Medicine, Dublin. Sir, – On the basis that nurses are trusted by medical systems in a variety of crucial roles from ICU decision-making to palliative care, Christina O'Rourke (Letters, July 4th) suggests there is 'no valid reason to restrict' them from injecting Botox into people. I'd argue there may be. A Google search of the term 'most lethal substance' immediately identifies this toxin of Clostridium botulinum as the lead in this regard. A Wikipedia search of 'median lethal dose' puts Botox at 1 nanogram/Kg. So, given that five grams of the substance, if distributed frugally, could kill all of humanity perhaps the case to allow its more widespread injection should be more nuanced? – Yours, etc, BRIAN O'BRIEN, Co Cork. Hpat and all that Sir, – It could be argued that Carl O'Brien provides a well balanced assessment of the relative merits and demerits of private tuition for the Health Professions Admission Test (' Hpat: Can students be 'coached' to pass aptitude tests for entry to medical school? ,' July 4th). At the end of the article, I was wondering with some trepidation, whether or not I would 'pass the Hpat' so I attempted the three questions. I was much relieved there were no issues with the first and third questions, but I was left scratching my head on checking the answer to question two. Maybe my level of interpersonal understanding isn't all I thought it was. – Yours, etc, Dr MICHAEL MULHERN, Letterkenny, Co Donegal. Sir, – Brenda Morgan writes (July 4th) that as a teacher she would value neat handwriting and other factors over any extra test such as the Hpat in selecting doctors. Were this truly a requirement for entry to medical school, it is likely that only a tiny minority of current doctors would have been admitted (myself included). – Yours, etc, Dr DAVID VAUGHAN, Mornington, Meath. Sir, – Carl O'Brien's very interesting piece on the Hpat test for admission of students to Irish medical schools omits one important reason for the introduction of that test in 2009; ie to try to weight the gender balance more in favour of male students who were faring less well than females in the traditional exam-based selection process. Has it succeeded in that aim? Or has it, as Prof Hyland predicted, merely contributed to the grinds industry? – Yours, etc, CELIA KEENAN, Dublin. Sir, – While a discussion about the relative weighting of the Hpat is welcome, people have forgotten about the situation before its introduction. At that time, it was not unusual for students to complete two, three, or even four Leaving Certificates to reach the required points. As well as the waste of the students' time, the ability to pay for the extra tuition in the grind schools was only for people with money. The use of points only also made the prospect of random selection much more common, as is being seen in other degree courses now. There is no perfect medical school admission test. How can any test predict the ability of the many roles of a doctor? An interview, even if semi-structured, has obvious potential biases and would certainly create a new industry to prepare students for this, too. The Hpat tests abilities other than rote learning. It is not ideal, but it has reduced the number of students taking multiple Leaving Certificates. The number of free sample questions it produces is limited, and certainly, these could be increased to allow everyone more pre-test practice. By all means, reduce its importance in the selection process, but it should not be discontinued. – Yours, etc, KEVIN DUNNE, (Retired consultant), Galway. Why have any nuclear arms? Sir, – May I be so bold as to ask why certain countries such as America, India, Israel, Russia, China, France, the United Kingdom, North Korea and Pakistan are allowed nuclear arms without question and others such as Iran are totally forbidden to have them? Is this not total hypocrisy and putting other countries at a disadvantage? Is it not fairer to ban nuclear arms from all countries? – Yours, etc, MAGGIE FITZGERALD, Killiney, Co Dublin. Airport set down enforcement Sir, – Terminal 1, Dublin Airport, Friday, July 4th: an entire lane of the constricted roadway at the departures set-down area is blocked by motorists sitting there to collect arriving passengers. Constant announcements bark that 'this is a set-down area only', but the waiting motorists, cocooned in their cars, know that the airport police will not disturb them. Maybe Dublin Airport cannot exercise the authority to enforce its own traffic bylaws when it refuses to accept capacity restrictions imposed by national planning laws? – Yours, etc, DAVID LOUGHLIN, Dublin 6. Support your local seagulls Sir – Des Boyle in complaining about seagulls (Letters, July 7th) states that they are 'vermin' and as such should be culled or exterminated for his convenience. For his information seagulls are not vermin and like any other creatures are entitled to live and raise their young free from the selfish entitlement of humans. Had humans not destroyed their natural habitat and decimated their food sources, they would not be forced to live in cities and scavenge for a living. Rather than exterminating seagulls, humans should work to restore their habitat and food sources and we would all, humans and birds, be the better for it. – Yours, etc, HUGH PIERCE, Celbridge, Co Kildare. No rocket science Sir, – Is it not feasible that with a little accommodation, change of bylaw if required, a solution can be found for residents wishing to charge their EV outside their homes. A concrete saw operator, and an electrician and a means to connect from the gully adjacent to the footpath. It's not rocket science. – Yours, etc, STANLEY WHITE, Delgany, Co Wicklow.
Irish Times
7 hours ago
- Irish Times
Apartment size reductions offer ‘small, dark' and ‘sad vision' for Dublin, councillors say
Dublin city is at risk of becoming a 'cultural wasteland' full of 'small, dark' homes under changes to apartment standards due to be brought to Cabinet on Tuesday, Dublin city councillors have warned. Councillors are seeking an 'urgent meeting' with Minister for Housing James Browne to discuss the proposed changes which would allow developers to build smaller apartments, with fewer windows, and without communal spaces. [ Smaller apartments, fewer windows and lifts: What are the planned changes to housing rules? Opens in new window ] A specific provision in the Dublin City Development Plan, which requires developers of large-scale housing – schemes 10,000sq m or larger – to include a minimum of 5 per cent community or cultural space, is also expected to be vetoed by the Minister. Ahead of the Cabinet meeting, city councillors, including Lord Mayor Ray McAdam (FG), on Monday night agreed an emergency motion expressing 'grave concern at central Government overreach' and its 'undermining of local democracy and its efforts to undermine the principle of sustainable community development'. READ MORE The change is expected to have 'huge implications for the city council' councillors said, but was going to Cabinet 'without any consultation or engagement with local authorities.' These changes represented a 'developer-led race to the bottom and further reduction in minimum standards and guidelines when it comes to apartment developments,' their motion said. The current minimum floor area for a studio is 37sq m, 45sq m for a one-bed apartment, 63sq m for a two-bed, and 90sq m for a three-bed apartment. It is understood that under the proposals the minimum size of a studio will be reduced to 32sq m, while a new standard for a three-bedroom apartment of 76sq m will be introduced. The other sizes will not change, but there will be no restriction on the number of smaller apartments in any development, and cultural and communal spaces will not be required. Green Party spokeswoman on arts and culture Donna Cooney said the proposals would 'undermine years of careful, considerate, sustainable planning for quality liveable housing and a vibrant cultural Dublin city'. Cllr Cooney said Mr Browne 'paints a sad vision for our city if these regressive measures are adopted by Cabinet. Our capital city could become a cultural wasteland with single people surviving in small dark studio apartments, in blocks with less private space, fewer couples, or family apartments and no community or cultural space to reduce developer's costs. What a sad vision for our city'. Labour Party councillor, Darragh Moriarty, in a statement said the measures represented a 'blatant attack' on the principle of building sustainable communities. 'Not alone are Government intent on further reducing the size and quality of the homes that the people of Dublin so desperately need, they are also hell-bent on giving in to developer pressure and gutting hard-won community and cultural space requirements in larger developments. Dublin City Council, the country's largest local authority, had no prior warning of these new guidelines, has not been consulted or had any opportunity to offer input.' Sinn Féin's Micheál MacDonncha said the Minister and the Government was 'yet again riding roughshod not only over the development plan but the experience of councillors and officials' who deal with housing and planning issues. It 'shows this Government's contempt for the reality on the ground'. Green Party councillor Claire Byrne said it was 'galling' the Minister would blame the housing crisis on the council's provision for cultural space. He was acquiescing to the developer lobby in an example of 'grubby politics'. Independent councillor Cieran Perry said the 'blatant pandering to the building industry was absolutely shocking'.
Irish Times
7 hours ago
- Irish Times
Fianna Fáil MEPs still to pick a side ahead of no-confidence motion in European Commission president
Fianna Fáil MEPs have come under pressure for suggesting they might support a motion of no-confidence in European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen . The no-confidence vote was tabled by a far-right Romanian MEP and 74 others, predominantly from right-wing populist and nationalist parties. On Thursday, Members of the European Parliament will vote on the proposed motion of no-confidence in Ms von der Leyen, the head of the EU 's executive arm that proposes laws. The effort is widely expected to fall far short of the required two-thirds majority needed to censure the commission. If the motion was successful, it would likely force Ms von der Leyen and her team of EU commissioners, including former Fianna Fáil minister Michael McGrath , to resign. READ MORE Fianna Fáil's four MEPs, Barry Andrews, Billy Kelleher, Cynthia Ní Mhurchú and Barry Cowen, have yet to declare what way they will vote. Fianna Fáil have been weighing up the possibility of supporting the motion or abstaining in the vote. The no-confidence vote centres on the 'Pfizergate' controversy, where the commission faced criticism for refusing to release text messages exchanged between Ms von der Leyen and the chief executive of Pfizer, during negotiations to secure supplies of Covid-19 vaccines at the height of the pandemic. Copies of the texts had been sought in access-to-information requests made by the New York Times, which later took the commission to court for blocking the release of the texts. Speaking in the European Parliament on Monday, Ms von der Leyen said the motion was supported by extreme political movements, 'from anti-vaxxers to Putin apologists'. Defending her role at the top of the EU executive during the pandemic, Ms von der Leyen said it was 'no secret' that she was in contact with senior figures in companies producing Covid-19 vaccines. 'Every single contract negotiated was examined in detail in the capitals before being signed by each of the 27 member states. There were no secrets, no hidden clauses,' she told a sitting of MEPs in Strasbourg. 'The implication that these contacts were somehow inappropriate or against the European interest is, by any measure, simply wrong.' The motion was an attempt to spin 'debunked conspiracies' and try to rewrite the history of how Europe 'successfully overcame a global pandemic together', she said. The EU executive needed to be in a strong position during ongoing tariff negotiations with the United States, the German politician said. Sinn Féin's two MEPs, Lynn Boylan and Kathleen Funchion, said they would vote against Ms von der Leyen, due to the failure of the EU to hold Israel to account for its conduct during its invasion of Gaza, among other things. Fine Gael's four MEPs will oppose the motion, which they said had been 'tabled by far-right members of the European Parliament in a bid to destabilise the EU for political gain'. Iratxe García, a senior Spanish MEP who leads the centre-left Socialist and Democrats (S&D), the second largest grouping in the parliament, said its members would not support the motion, as it refused to work with the far right. The motion has divided some right-wing populists, with hard right Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni's party opposing the effort to bring down the commission leadership. Nicola Procaccini, an MEP from Ms Meloni's Brothers of Italy party, said the move was a mistake. 'This motion is doomed to fail and we know it, without even getting close to the level of votes needed,' he said. The proposal was one 'big political show' from the far-right to undermine democracy, according to Bas Eickhout, the co-leader of the European Greens.
