
Letters: We got housing right in the mid-20th century, long before ideology took over
The construction sector speaks about our complex and snail-like planning system and the need to make profit on home construction; it denies land hoarding and mentions the shortage of skilled labour.
The provision of homes should never be the subject of politics or ideology. As a state, we got it right in the middle decades of the 20th century, right up to the early 1990s.
I do not recall, as a young clerical officer in a housing authority in the early 1970s, much ideology. The public housing programme was hugely successful. State loans were available to buy homes in 'private' estates.
Local authority tenants were offered an option to acquire the title to their homes after about 10 years.
Part V of the 2000 Planning and Development Act provided for the concept of a statutory 'social housing' quota in developments above a certain size.
The direct provision of public housing was largely shifted from housing authorities to this social housing quota.
Doubtless, too many units were built in the boom era. However, the planning system itself is causing huge delays and huge uncertainty among potential developers and those who lend to them.
Individuals have an unqualified right to object to any development in any part of this jurisdiction. Individuals have the right to appeal any decision by a planning authority.
An Bord Pleanála takes ages to determine appeals.
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And then, if parties are unhappy with the appeal outcome, the judicial review option is available. There was a time when the superior courts shied away from making calls on planning decisions.
The much-heralded 2024 Planning and Development Act will, I fear, do absolutely nothing to improve the provision of affordable new homes.
I'm wondering, as parents ourselves, do we even care if our own kids find a place to call home?
Why is this crisis being tolerated?
Larry Dunne, Rosslare Harbour, Co Wexford
Pat Stacey may call it guff, but the GAA mythology got warring men to bond
Pat Stacey's weariness with the 'cod-mystical guff' in Hell for Leather ('Hell for Leather brings history of GAA to life but it's marred by bombastic nonsense', Irish Independent, June 10) is understandable, but mistaking myth-making for bombast is a curiously joyless take on a national story.
That soccer, not Gaelic football, dominated his Dublin childhood is noted with the weary pride of someone who believes personal nostalgia to be national history.
But the GAA never needed the approval of Dublin 8. It was too busy binding the country together with railways that carried teams, parishes that bred them and matches that made temporary peace between men still at war.
Yes, the docu-series leans into the lyrical, but Gaelic football has never been content to be just a game. It has been defiance in boots, identity in motion and occasionally, admittedly, a free-for-all with a referee.
Stacey might call that overstatement. Most of us would call it context.
Enda Cullen, Tullysaran Road, Armagh
Absence of 24/7 Air Corps service highlights how poorly we are governed
We are informed ('Tánaiste Simon Harris to seek cabinet approval to return Irish Air Corps to 24/7 service', Irish Independent, June 10) that Mr Harris wants the Air Corps to be available around the clock.
How could the Government allow a situation where the Irish Air Corps was unable to provide a 24/7 service? Another example of 'questionable' government action/lack of action.
Michael Moriarty, Rochestown, Cork
State of the world has shown that we now need to go all in on our military
There is no greater symbol of how to serve the nation than to be a member of the Defence Forces.
In 2020, I questioned, in a letter published at the start of January of that year, the need for armed forces in this country. Now, with the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, as well as the unstable situation created by Donald Trump, I believe we either go all in on spending with the Defence Forces or we leave our military to rot.
Liam Doran, Clondalkin, Dublin
Extraordinary that Fianna Fáil has had little input into recent presidencies
Senan Molony informs us Fianna Fáil may name its candidate for the presidency by the end of the month ('Fianna Fáil to choose 'definitive position' on Irish presidential election by the end of the month', Irish Independent, June 10).
It is hard to believe this is the first time this century that the party will field a runner when you think how it had dominated the office since the foundation of the State .
It is notable there will not be an agreed candidate for Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. It would be ironic if the two parties in government were the only ones to put forward credible candidates.
Thomas Garvey, Claremorris, Co Mayo
Greta Thunberg's action puts mealy mouths of the Western leaders to shame
Greta Thunberg and her colleagues offer a glimmer of hope and stand head and shoulders above the cowards of the Western world who speak out of both sides of their mouths.
Noel Mannion, Clonbur, Co Galway
Deafening silence from the new Pope as Gaza is bulldozed into the earth
The silence is frightening. The Pope seems to have disappeared. As for Irish Catholic leaders, not a word.
No flotilla to challenge genocide. No church-gate collections like Ukraine. And the Catholic Church wonders why the pews are empty and vocations declining.
Jesus was a Palestinian before and after colonial powers left an appalling vacuum in 1948.
Bishops and cardinals lecture us on scripture, but is it not time to get off their high horses and take action?
We all abhor what Hamas did, but 54,000 dead as a response? Try to justify that.
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Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Irish Independent
The Indo Daily: 'Did the Irish fall into a vat of Guinness?' - Washington tells Ireland to ‘sober up' over Occupied Territories Bill
So states the outline of the Occupied Territories Bill, as introduced in 2018 by senator Frances Black. Seven years later, the bill is increasingly the subject of public pressure and debate, as Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris continue to address criticism. And it's not just here at home, with a growing number of international political voices chiming in, some in more derogatory fashion than others. US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee slated the Occupied Territories Bill and told Ireland to "sober up". "Did the Irish fall into a vat of Guinness," he posted on Twitter. The diplomat said the bill was "so stupid" it smacked of "diplomatic intoxication". The Taoiseach stressed that people needed to focus on the ongoing loss of life in Gaza and across the Middle East. Today on The Indo Daily, Fionnán Sheahan is joined by Mary Regan, Political Editor with the Irish Independent and Sunday Independent, and by Tabitha Monahan, Political Reporter with the Irish Independent, to explore the Occupied Territories Bill, and the political flashpoints that underline it.


Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Irish Independent
Letters: Latest ‘solution' to buying a home leaves more questions than answers
First, do they all live and share all the amenities, like kitchen and bathroom rosters? What if they want people to stay overnight? What about noise? What about use of the garden for a barbecue, do you need to book in advance? Also, what about the patter of little feet? Maybe the other couple don't have or want kids. And the ultimate problem: what if one of these couples falls on hard times and can't pay the mortgage? Does the other couple lose the house? I think they need to go back to the drawing board. Colette Collins, Friars Hill, Wicklow Sex work is not a viable option – it simply traps people in cycle of poverty Jenny Maguire suggests that sex work is a viable option for the economically marginalised ('Why the potential closure of Sex Workers Alliance Ireland signals a deep societal failure', Irish Independent, July 21). Prostitution is not like other work, there's no career ladder and most leave it harmed, not promoted. Claiming prostitution is a regular job ignores the conditions that trap women in cycles of poverty by pretending it's a choice. Sandra Adams, Baldoyle, Dublin 13 Ireland has failed to play both sides in Washington and it leaves us vulnerable Fionnán Sheahan rightly warns that Ireland, once Washington's darling during Brexit, now risks being outflanked by countries like Israel using its own playbook of targeted lobbying and diaspora engagement ('Israel has copied Irish Brexit playbook, exposing our Washington complacency', Irish Independent, July 21). But this isn't just a case of Ireland losing its touch, it signals a broader shift. In an era of transactional politics and polarised power blocs, soft power is no longer stored in UN chambers or St Patrick's Day photo calls – it's deployed relentlessly, issue by issue, in the corridors of Capitol Hill. The lesson is clear: in the US, influence is now a perishable commodity. The Irish Government's failure to maintain bipartisan relationships leaves it vulnerable not just on the Occupied Territories Bill, but on future transatlantic issues – from corporate tax to data flows – where Ireland may find itself facing hostile coalitions with no natural allies. If Dublin doesn't relearn the habits of constant, hard-nosed political engagement across both aisles in Washington, it will watch its past leverage turn into a cautionary tale of how soft power evaporates when left untended. Enda Cullen, Tullysaran Road, Armagh World leaders hold talks in luxury while families are annihilated in Gaza We have to ask the question: just how long more do we have to watch the humiliating scenes of cruelty inflicted on the most innocent and wonderful people of Gaza? We watch our daily news now filtering into months, and soon years, cringing at the prospect that one man, Benjamin Netanyahu, is allowed to continue with such evil atrocities. Should we not ask what sort of world leaders have we when they allow this sort of carnage unhindered day in, day out. Just when you think it can't get much worse, you hear in the last few days that dozens of starving citizens queuing up for food are attacked and killed while children look on, trying to make sense of it. The only Catholic church in Gaza, the Church of the Holy Family, was targeted and worshippers killed and the priest injured. All this inhumanity going on and all the powers-that-be seem to worry about is 'is it genocide or not?' while families' lives are ripped away because they live in that part of the world. Shame on them and on anyone whose duty is to prevent this sordid situation. We see plenty of grand, luxurious, expensive meetings going on, but to no avail. Mary Haran, Kilbride, Aclare, Co Sligo After a week of sporting highs and lows, all eyes turn to Kerry and Donegal The expert opinion was that the Tipperary boys would have to play out of their skins and the Cork men would have to collapse for Tipp to have any chance of winning the All-Ireland senior hurling championship final. But that's exactly what happened. The old cliche that 'it's all about delivery on the day' rang true once again. At half-time, Cork had one hand on the Liam MacCarthy Cup, but who could have foreseen that the Rebels would only raise the white flag twice in a 39-minute second half while the Premier County amassed a phenomenal 3-14. Such is the agony and the ecstasy of sport, where the winners take the spoils of victory and the losers are left distraught and inconsolable. During the week, we rejoiced in the glory of Ben Healy's stage win and wearing of the yellow jersey for two days in the world's greatest cycling race, the Tour de France. We suffered with Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry when the former's stroke gave flight to two golf balls and the latter's practice stroke bizarrely incurred a two-stroke penalty at the Open Golf Championship in Portrush. But my focus is now on next Sunday's football final, when our Kerry warriors take on the mighty men from Donegal. After their annihilation of Meath, Donegal will be many people's fancy for Sam. But Kerry's performance against Tyrone has us Kerry folk quietly confident. The level of expectation is sky high. The county is awash in green and gold. Billy Ryle, Tralee, Co Kerry Second-half masterclass will surely be studied by experts for years to come As I drove from Co Meath to Co Mayo on Sunday afternoon through heavy thunder showers, I was highly entertained by the excellent RTÉ Radio 1 commentary on the hurling final between Tipperary and Cork. No doubt the second half of the game will be used by sport psychologists as a motivational tool for all sports players for years to come. I hope the cows of Tipperary were milked on Sunday evening during the celebrations. Finally, the Tipperary captain gave an excellent speech after the game and had the presence to mention all involved and those who were watching from above. Seamus Joyce, Richmond, London


Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Irish Examiner
Ireland's food history is explored in a brand-new companion book
British prime minister Winston Churchill was hostile to Ireland's neutrality during the Second World War, a period Ireland referred to as the Emergency. While the rest of the world was embroiled in a war, the fledgling Irish state's neutrality enraged Churchill, who attempted to hit the Irish where it hurt — their stomachs. With no merchant navy, Ireland was reliant on the benevolence and protection of its neighbour for many of its critical food imports. Despite Ireland's friendly status, Churchill and his cabinet often applied pressure. However, Ireland had some leverage. On one occasion, then minister of supplies, Seán Lemass, withheld the export of Guinness bound for troops in Northern Ireland, forcing the British, in turn, to release agricultural products. This is just one of hundreds of fascinating tales and anecdotes from the recently published Irish Food History: A Companion, edited by Máirtín Mac Con Iomaire and Dorothy Cashman. HISTORY HUB If you are interested in this article then no doubt you will enjoy exploring the various history collections and content in our history hub. Check it out HERE and happy reading With the help of 32 contributors, this beautifully realised publication examines our relationship with food and drink, from prehistory right up to the phenomenon that is Ballymaloe House. 'Food is a point of access to history,' says food historian Dorothy Cashman. 'We wanted to introduce a new readership to a different way of viewing history. Sometimes, people are put off by overtly political history or are exhausted by social media. This is a different way of viewing it, and it's maybe slightly more accessible.' While, at 800 pages, this book is not meant for one sitting, its accessibility stems from the endlessly fascinating stories and characters that suck the reader in to one or a series of its 28 chapters. A 2,325-year-old bog butter weighing almost 13.5kgs recovered from Rosberry in County Kildare, dated 360 to 200 BC, alongside the keg it was found in. Image copyright of the National Museum of Ireland. The scope of topics is remarkable, from bog butter, beekeeping, and banqueting in the medieval castles of Gaelic chiefs to examinations on Irish state dining, the co-operative movement, and pub food. 'One of the amazing things we found was how far back cooking goes in Ireland,' says Máirtín Mac Con Iomaire, senior lecturer in the School of Culinary Arts and Food Technology, Technological University Dublin. 'The earliest evidence we found was from around 33,000 BC. We found that all the way through there's a great importance attached to hospitality and to being a good host. That carries on from the Gaelic and medieval period, right through to the 1950s or '80s and today. When someone comes into your house, no matter what you have or how bad times are, you still offer them a cup of tea and a biscuit or a sandwich. This long-standing tradition of hospitality is so ingrained in our psyche that we don't notice it until it's pointed out to us.' This hospitality was even afforded to the dead. One remarkable chapter talks us through an account of a wake at Dunquin, in Kerry, where 'wake goods were taken from the carts' and set out around the corpse, laid out on the table in the middle of the room. Tea and bread were served around the deceased, while a barrel of porter flowed freely. Máirtín Mac Con Iomaire & Dorothy Cashman. Not everyone benefitted from this apparent goodwill. A chapter entitled Hunger and Starvation in Modern Ireland is less celebratory. 'The narrative that we tend to get in school is that lots of people died during the famine, but that by the time we had our independence that was the end of people dying of starvation in Ireland,' says Máirtín. 'Ian Miller's chapter shows us it's not. He gives us some shocking examples. He has a story of a Protestant family down in West Cork who had been quite well-to-do, because they used to supply food to the British navy. Post-independence, that contract had gone and they found themselves down on their luck. When they went to look for help, they were deemed to be too wealthy. So they went home and didn't come to look for help the second time. They were found starving in their home and died in the poorhouse three days later.' Food is found in our art, music, poetry, placenames, and our native language. 'The simplest example is 'bóthar',' says Máirtín, 'The Irish word for road. The road had to be big enough for two bó, the Irish for 'cow', to pass each other.' 'There is so much knowledge tied in to the Irish language and culture. It's really important not to forget what's hidden in plain sight: Centuries of inherited wisdom of our forefathers that's held within the Irish language and heritage,' says Máirtín. 'In this time of ecological change, we need to understand nature and the traditions of working with the cycles, as our ancestors did. I think there's a new generation of chefs tapping in to that heritage now. The likes of Cúán Greene and Mark Moriarty and people like that. 'In some ways, it's influenced by the recent innovations in Nordic cuisine. Many of the graduates from Cathal Brugha St have worked in those countries and have picked that up.' Traditional Irish soda bread made from whole grain and rye flour. THE IRONY is that much of the influence for this Nordic revolution can be put down to Myrtle Allen, of Ballymaloe fame. 'One of the pioneers of that movement came to Ballymaloe as part of a Euro-Toques gathering,' says Máirtín. 'He saw how this woman in East Cork was serving simple mackerel and locally gathered Carrageen moss and questioned why they couldn't do the same in Denmark.' That pioneer was Claus Meyer, co-founder of the now world-famous Noma restaurant in Copenhagen. After his visit to Cork, he returned to Denmark and challenged his peers to do away with the truffles, foie gras, and other trappings of Mediterranean-style foods and create a Nordic cuisine using locally sourced food and traditional knowledge. When Myrtle Allen started out, not only was she challenging the fashions of the time, but also government policy. The Irish government's first programme for economic expansion (1958–63) advocated the application of scientific methods to agriculture and to food production. Traditional reliance was at odds with the desire to promote a more industrialised food industry, with increased mechanisation and increased productivity. Myrtle's menu was all about using produce that was locally sourced and cooked in a simple, respectful way. When Myrtle died in June 2018, at the age of 94, she was referred to by Georgina Campbell as 'Ireland's greatest food hero'. Few would argue. And that this publication closes with a chapter dedicated to 'the matriarch of modern Irish cooking' is a fitting tribute. 'She was so ahead of the posse, What is the zeitgeist at the moment, she was doing 50, 60 years ago and doing so unapologetically,' says Máirtín. Were she still with us today, she would, no doubt, take some pride in having partly inspired this wonderful history of what is finally becoming a rightfully celebrated cuisine. Irish Food History: A Companion edited by Máirtín Mac Con Iomaire and Dorothy Cashman 'Irish Food History: A Companion' is available on open access from EUT+ Press. The second print run will be available to purchase from and bookshops from the end of February. 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