Simon Harris urges against ‘any acts that would put peacekeepers at harm' after UNIFIL position in Lebanon hit with IDF fire
All Irish peacekeepers in Lebanon are 'safe and well' following 'aggressive postures adopted by the Israeli Defence Forces' in recent days, which included a UN peacekeeping position being hit with direct fire and Irish personnel being among those observed by an 'unwelcome' laser light.
Irish personnel performing a patrol with the Lebanese army last night noted 'the presence of a laser light near their position; this frequently indicates that they were being observed using an optical sight which includes a laser light module,' a spokesperson for the Irish Defence Forces said.
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The Journal
29 minutes ago
- The Journal
Who are the 8 companies that Ireland invests in that have links to illegal Israeli settlements?
INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES WERE made when Michael McGrath, Ireland's then Minister for Finance, announced the State's divestment from six companies with ties to illegal Israeli settlements. The decision, made in April 2024, was soon followed up by the Irish Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF). Up until that point, Ireland directly invested in 11 companies with ties to settlements in occupied Palestinian territories, and the State's divestment from six of these brought the total down to five. But through involvements in those five companies, the ISIF may still be investing millions in businesses with links to settlements that are considered illegal under international law. It also recently emerged through Parliamentary Questions that the State is also investing in another three more companies with ties to settlements indirectly, through its shares in hedge funds and other similar vehicles. It means that, according to the latest annual report by the fund (which was published at the end of 2023), the ISIF has possible holdings in eight companies linked to illegal Israeli settlements. Who are these companies and why are they linked to settler activity in occupied Palestine territory? Israeli buildings and apartments in the Jewish settlement Tzofim last month Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Investigations like this don't happen without your support… Impactful investigative reporting is powered by people like you. Support The Journal Investigates The UN database The 2024 decision by the ISIF to divest from six companies was informed by one key document: a United Nations database that names businesses and parent companies whose subsidiaries enable the continued existence of Israeli settlements. The UN list was first compiled in 2020 by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and named 112 (mostly Israeli) companies that it deemed were involved in 'certain specified activities related to the Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem'. Companies on this list are deemed to be involved in any of 10 different activities that are deemed to facilitate the existence of Israeli settlements. This includes things like providing equipment and materials to help build settlements, the supply of equipment to demolish property, farmland and crops belonging to Palestinians, or providing surveillance technology to be used in settlements. The vast majority of companies on the list are listed for three reasons: The provision of services or utilities that support the ongoing existence of settlements, including transport; The provision of banking and financial services to support the development, expansion or maintenance of settlements (such as loans for housing and business); The use of natural resources within the occupied territories for business purposes, especially water and land. The database was updated in 2023 after 15 companies provided sufficient information to the UN to show that they had ceased involvement in the activity that got them on the list in 2020, or had changed their structure so that they were no longer linked to settlements. The database is broken down into four sections comprising: a list of the 15 companies that are no longer deemed to be linked to settlements; a list of 79 companies deemed to directly support Israeli settlements; a list of 17 businesses linked to settlements as parent companies; one company deemed to support settlements through its activity as a licensor or franchisor. Until 2024, Ireland directly invested €4.2 million in 11 of these companies before divesting from six of them, with that divestment comprising a total value of €2.95 million worth of holdings. The divestments were from five Israeli banks (Bank Hapoalim BM; Bank Leumi-le Israel BM; Israel Discount Bank Ltd; Mizrahi Tefahot Bank Ltd; First International Bank Ltd) and an Israeli supermarket chain called Rami Levi Chain Stores Ltd. At the time that the planned divestment was flagged in late 2023, Michael McGrath responded to criticism by Sinn Féin that the Government should divest from all companies with links to settlements by saying that the Government wanted to take a comprehensive approach to examining the issue. He explained that the UN has said its list is not complete, and thus suggested that it would require careful research by the ISIF to ensure that divestments were being made for the right reasons. There have been no divestment announcements regarding any of the other five companies since. Asked to confirm whether the investments in the five are still active, a spokesperson for the ISIF told The Journal Investigates that its 2023 annual report is the most up-to-date list of investments by the fund, and added that the fund's 2024 annual report will be published shortly. In April, it emerged in response to a Parliamentary Question by Sinn Féin's Matt Carthy that the ISIF also indirectly held investments – which are usually made via hedge funds or mutual funds – in three other companies on the UN database in 2023. It brought the overall number of investments held by the fund in companies on the database that year to eight (comprising five companies with direct investments and three with indirect investments only). By the end of 2023, the total value of these investments was more than €10 million. Airbnb – Accommodation Investments: ~€310,000 (direct) One of the few household names on the UN's list, Airbnb is also one of the better-known companies on the ISIF's portfolio. It is one of just eight non-Israeli companies that appear on the UN database for its direct involvement in a listed activity relating to settlements. Five of those businesses are online accommodation companies (more on the others below), all of which are deemed to provide 'services or utilities' because they list properties to rent in occupied Palestinian and Syrian territories. The only one of the five platforms that feature on the UN database which the ISIF did not invest in was the UK-based Opodo. The other four have been criticised by groups including Amnesty Intertnational for facilitating the normalisation of illegal settlements by advertising them as tourist destinations, and allowing settlers – and by extension, the websites themselves – to earn an income from land that was stolen from Palestinians. A sign advertises Israeli tourism near the Jewish settlement Psagot in the West Bank Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Using these websites to find accommodation in illegal settlements is not particularly difficult. The Journal Investigates searched Airbnb and found a number of current listings for properties that are based in settlements in the West Bank, occupied East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights. As well as causing the company to feature on the UN's database, these properties – and Airbnb's former attempts to stop featuring them – have prompted a number of legal actions against the company. In Ireland, the pro-Palestine campaign group Sadaka (unsuccessfully) complained to Gardaí that Airbnb Ireland is guilty of money-laundering, because it argued that Israeli settlers are profiting from properties located in settlements that are deemed illegal under international law. Airbnb Ireland denies accusations of money laundering and gardaí made the decision not to investigate the complaint. Sadaka has since launched judicial review proceedings against that decision in the High Court. Advertisement In the US and Israel, Airbnb also found itself at the centre of a different legal challenge over its decision to remove around 200 listings for accommodation in West Bank settlements that it said 'are at the core of the dispute between Israelis and Palestinians'. It settled four of those legal challenges and reversed its decision to remove the properties the following year. The company said at the time that it would instead donate all profits from its listings in the occupied West Bank to 'non-profit organisations dedicated to humanitarian aid that serve people in different parts of the world'. The Journal Investigates contacted Airbnb Inc for comment, but no response was received by the time of publication. Recent statements given by the company to other news outlets have pointed to its donation of profits from host activity in the West Bank to an international charity. Alstom SA – Transport Investments: ~€210,000 (direct) & ~€75,000 (indirect) Among the lesser-known names on the list, Alstom is a French multinational that is one of the world's largest rail companies. It manufactures rolling stock and other forms of rail infrastructure, including high-speed trains, metros, monorails and trams, as well as signalling. Among its most famous products are trains for France's high-speed intercity rail service, the TGV. The company previously worked in the energy and shipbuilding sectors, until it was given a €3.4 billion bailout by the French government in 2003 and sold its power and grid divisions to General Electric in 2014. In 2021, the company also acquired Bombardier Transportation, a rolling stock and rail transport manufacturer that was a subsidiary of Canadian aerospace manufacturer Bombardier. As a result of that acquisition, Alstom is listed as a parent company on Section C of the UN database for two reasons: for providing transport infrastructure that supports the existence of Israeli settlements, and because of its use of natural resources in occupied territories for business purposes. A tram on Jerusalem's Red Line Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Through Bombardier Transportation, Alstom became indirectly linked to the supply of rolling stock for the Tel Aviv to Jerusalem train line, which passes through parts of the occupied West Bank . The company told Le Monde in August 2024 that it 'participated in the maintenance of Jerusalem's light rail red line', which connects the city to occupied East Jerusalem, though it says this has ceased. A spokesperson for Alstom told The Journal Investigates that Alstom does not have any activity within or related to occupied Palestinian territories, and that the company has requested removal from the UN database when it is next updated. The government has previously said that the ISIF continues to monitor its holdings, and Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe has told the Dáil that it is unclear how much income companies like Alstom derive from the occupied territories. Altice – Communications Investments: ~€862,000 (indirect) Altice International is another of the less familiar businesses in whom the ISIF has invested. The company was founded by French-Israeli businessman Patrick Drahi in Luxembourg in 2001, and provides internet, phone and television services throughout Europe, the United States, Israel and within occupied Palestinian territories. It is listed on the UN database for the same two reasons as Alstom: providing a service that supports the existence of Israeli settlements, and because of its use of natural resources with the occupied territories. It is specifically listed in Section C because it is the parent company of the Israeli mobile phone and telecoms providers Hot Mobile and Hot Telecommunication Systems. Through both companies, settlers in the occupied West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights can access mobile phone services, cable television, landline phone services and broadband. Both companies are also listed separately in Section B of the UN database, though the ISIF does not invest in them. The Journal Investigates contacted Altice for comment, but no response was received by the time of publication. Last year, it referred similar queries by French newspaper Le Monde to a press release which said that the company 'respects local regulations'. Booking Holdings – Accommodation Investments: ~€920,000 (direct) & €691,768 (indirect) Like Airbnb, Dutch-based is another of the five online accommodation companies that feature on Section B of the database for listing properties to rent in the occupied territories. Its US parent company Booking Holdings, which the Irish government directly invests in, is also listed on Section C of the list for the same reason. As with Airbnb, The Journal Investigates browsed and was easily able to find hundreds of listings for hotels and guesthouses, including with names written in Hebrew, based in settlements in the West Bank, the Golan Heights and occupied East Jerusalem. Above the listings, the website features a notice that urges visitors to 'review any travel advisories provided by your government to make an informed decision about your stay in this area, which may be considered conflict-affected'. A sign points to Israeli tourists sites and activities in the Jewish settlement Shilo in the West Bank Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo However, there is no indication that the properties are based in or near illegal settlements. The company announced in September 2022 that it would start adding safety guidance to any listings in the occupied West Bank and occupied East Jerusalem, including guidance that the reservations are 'occupied'. It subsequently backtracked on this policy the following month after pressure from the Israeli government, and instead opted to use the term 'conflict-affected' in its warnings. In a statement to The Journal Investigates, a spokesperson for said the company believed it was 'not our place to decide where someone can or cannot travel'. They added that there are 'many parts of the world where there are conflicts or disputes' and that the company seeks to inform tourists by adding information or prompts to consult government advice in listings for areas that are 'disputed or impacted by conflict'. Delek Group Ltd – Transport Investments: ~€214,000 (indirect) The only Israeli company on the UN database that the Irish government invests in, energy conglomerate Delek Group is best-known in Israel as the operator of a chain of filling stations and convenience stores. The ISIF's investment in the company is indirect, which means that it did not directly buy shares or provide capital to Delek, but instead invested in it through an intermediary such as a fund or financial institution that handles investment decisions on Ireland's behalf. Sign up The Journal Investigates is dedicated to lifting the lid on how Ireland works. Our newsletter gives you an inside look at how we do this. Sign up here... Sign up .spinner{transform-origin:center;animation:spinner .75s infinite linear}@keyframes spinner{100%{transform:rotate(360deg)}} You are now signed up A search of Google Maps reveals that Delek Group operates at least two petrol stations near a settlement within the West Bank, as well as a handful of others near settlements in the Golan Heights. Delek petrol stations inside the West Bank and Golan Heights The UN database says the company features on the list for providing a service that supports settlements, including transport, as well as the use of natural resources for business purposes. Delek Group is also linked to the activities of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF): under a contract agreed in 2020, the IDF listed Delek as one of two companies whose petrol stations are allowed to be used by military vehicles to refuel. The Journal Investigates contacted Delek Group for comment, but no response was received by the time of publication and no other recent statements on the company's position about its activities in occupied Palestinian territories could be found. A Delek station in Katzrin in the Golan Heights. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Expedia Group – Accommodation Investments: ~€260,000 (direct) & ~€985,200 (indirect) Yet another of the five online accommodation platforms on Section B of the UN list, Expedia Group is the owner of a travel booking site under its own name, as well as a number of others including Trivago and Vrbo. It also features on the database because it lists properties to rent in settlements in occupied territories. The Journal Investigates searched on Expedia for accommodation for July and August and found dozens of listings based in settlements in the West Bank, parts of occupied East Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights. Similar listings were also found via and Vrbo, including one in Efrat whose main image featured an Israeli flag hanging from the balcony of a property. None of these listings contained any reference to the fact they are located in illegal settlements. Expedia's only indication that properties may be based in settlements is via its search tool (which is also used on and Vrbo), where location data includes 'Israeli Settlement, Palestinian Territories' when a person specifically looks for properties in a settlement in the West Bank. However, the search function lists the Golan Heights as being part of Israel, and the location tag does not feature for properties based in settlements in occupied East Jerusalem. The Journal Investigates contacted Expedia Group for comment, but no response was received by the time of publication. The company has said that accommodation listings in occupied Palestinian territory have been clearly identified as Israeli settlements, and previously responded to criticism in 2019 saying it would 'continue to assess the type of information' it provided to tourists. Motorola Solutions – Security Investments: ~€700,000 (direct) & ~€3.9 million (indirect) Not to be confused with the telecoms company of the same name, with whom it split in 2011, Motorola Solutions specialises in security products and systems such as video equipment and command centre technology. Both Motorola Solutions Inc and its subsidiary, Motorola Solutions Israel, feature on the UN database for two reasons: providing services to support settlements; and for the supply of security services and equipment to companies that operate in settlements. The two companies are among just six that appear on the list for supplying security, and their systems feature throughout the occupied territories, along the separation wall in the West Bank, and at Israeli military bases. A CCTV camera over the wall separting Israel and the West Bank in Bethlehem Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo In 2012, a report by the UN Special Rapporteur for Palestine Richard Falk said that Motorola Solutions Israel supplied surveillance systems, radar detectors and mobile communications systems to settlements. 'Beyond sustaining the settlements, these security systems further limit the Palestinians' freedom of movement within their territory,' Falk said at the time. Human rights groups have also highlighted how the company's MotoEagle Wide Area Surveillance System – which uses radars and cameras to detect movements - has been used as a 'virtual fence system' in dozens of illegal settlements. The Journal Investigates contacted Motorola Solutions for comment, but no response was received by the time of publication. The company has previously told a number of outlets that it supports 'efforts in the region to find a peaseful resolution to the conflict'. Tripadvisor – Accommodation and tourism Investments: ~€1.07 million (direct) . US travel platform Tripadvisor is another of the five major tourism companies to feature on the UN database for listing accommodation in the occupied territories. Unlike the other tourism websites on this list, Tripadvisor provides a range of services on top of accommodation, including flight bookings, restaurant reservations, and user-generated content such as reviews and travel guides. The Journal Investigates was able to find a number of listings for holiday lettings via Trivago's website in settlements based in the West Bank and the Golan Heights. Once again, there was no indication that these properties are based in illegal settlements, aside from a disclaimer at the top of Tripadvisor's search which reads: 'Due to safety risks in parts of this area, travellers should review the latest guidance and information from government agencies.' Israeli settlers harvesting grapes in the West Bank to produce wine in the Jewish settlement Psagot Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo The website was also found to recommend activities and tours within settlements, including tours, shopping, a shooting range and a craft workshop in the region of Gush Etzion, wineries in Psagot and Shilo, and a farm in Kibutz Almog. Location information on the individual Tripadvisor pages for these activities states they are located in Israeli settlements. The Journal Investigates contacted Tripadvisor for comment, but no response was received by the time of publication. The company has previously said that it does not believe in withholding travel information from users, and aims to provide 'an apolitical, accurate and useful picture of all accommodations, restaurants and attractions'. The Journal Investigates Reporter: Stephen McDermott • Investigation Editor: Sinead O'Carroll • The Journal Investigates Editor: Maria Delane y • Social Media: Cliodhna Travers • Main Image Design: Lorcan O'Reilly Investigations like this don't happen without your support... Impactful investigative reporting is powered by people like you. Over 5,000 readers have already supported our mission with a monthly or one-off payment. Join them here: Support The Journal
Irish Times
an hour 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.
The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
Belly dancer influencer arrested for ‘using seduction techniques' and ‘exposing sensitive areas' in viral online vids
A BELLY dancer influencer has been arrested for "using seduction techniques" and "exposing sensitive areas" in her viral online videos. Online sensation Linda Martino, originally from Italy, was arrested for "immortality" in strict Egypt two weeks ago - and is to remain in prison for another fortnight. Advertisement 5 A belly dancer influencer has been arrested for 'using seduction techniques' Credit: Instagram 5 Online sensation Linda Martino, originally from Italy, was arrested for 'immortality' in strict Egypt Credit: Instagram 5 Linda has over two million followers on Instagram Credit: Instagram Linda - who has over two million followers on Instagram - moved to the North African country a few years ago and has built a successful career in belly dancing. Videos of her performing in popular clubs to various Egyptian hit songs have garnered millions of views across various social media platforms. But an investigation was reportedly triggered by one of her most shared videos, where Linda performs in a cabaret in a traditional belly dancing costume. The Cairo prosecutor's office accuses the young woman of having "used seduction techniques and provocative dances to incite vice". Advertisement read more news According to authorities' report, in some videos Linda "deliberately wore provocative clothing and performed dance movements with sexual allusions" They say she therefore disrespected "public decency" and the "values of family and society". Investigators also argued the artist "appeared in indecent clothing, deliberately exposing sensitive areas of her body, in clear violation of social values". She denies all the charges against her and claims she practices her profession in compliance with the law. Advertisement Most read in The US Sun The dancer said after being arrested: "I have the permits to practice my activity and all the videos circulating on social media are normal. "It is a permitted dance performance and does not contain anything that violates or goes against public morals." Irish TD Paul Murphy detained in Egypt and passport confiscated after bus stopped amid March to Gaza She added that the content she records is "only for entertainment purposes". Whilst belly dancing isn't prohibited in Egypt, videos on social media have to comply with the country's values. Advertisement Egypt has increased its cruel crackdowns on artists and influences accused of offending public morals. Under Abdel Fattah Al Sisi's government, at least five belly dancers have been horrifically jailed on charges similar to those given to Linda. The Pharaoh nation sucks in a staggering 18 million tourists each year, and the industry props up around 10 per cent of the whole economy. But beyond the plush resorts of the popular and Hurghada - Advertisement The country's brutal police force deals in bribes and locks people up on bogus charges, including Brit holidaymakers. Egypt's picture-postcard image is being tested, with a former British ambassador to the country recently branding it a "police state". 5 Videos of her performing in popular clubs to various Egyptian hit songs have garnered millions of views Credit: Instagram 5 An investigation was reportedly triggered by one of her most shared videos Credit: Instagram Advertisement
