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Irish Independent

Letters: Why has the Government delayed and supplanted the widely popular Occupied Territories Bill?

Last week, the Cabinet passed its proposed alternative to the Occupied Territories Bill (OTB). Unfortunately, it appears weak and flawed. Even if forced through by a political whip system, it can have little impact on the suffering. Most Irish people already support the OTB, introduced by senator Frances Black in 2018. Its innovative, peaceful approach can attract worldwide support, as the Irish shop workers above did. For supportive countries, implementation of the OTB is practical and feasible. Its focus is on the illegal occupation, rather than blanket boycotts on blameless Israelis. However, its significant penalties include exports of both services and goods. The Government's bill has far less scope and potential impact. The outstanding question is, why has the Irish Government proposed this flawed bill to supplant the acclaimed 2018 OTB? The latter's democratic credentials are unquestionable, having gained large majority support in the Dáil and Seanad and twice with the electorate. Instead of enactment, there has been 11 months of dilution, deferral and avoidable delay, during a particularly horrific period for Gaza. If this sad saga has resulted from threats or serious external pressure on our Government, they should be shared with a sympathetic public. Confidence in our precious democracy might be renewed in Dáil votes on the OTB and its proposed replacement. Suspension of the party whip system would allow votes of conscience on this profound humanitarian issue. Philip Powell, Dún Laoghaire, Dublin Housing shortage a worry, but new school delivery is also a growing concern I was one of many who recently took 'one last stroll' through CBS Secondary School, Kilkenny. This year's Leaving Cert students would be the last to sit at a desk in the school that has been serving Kilkenny families from the same site since 1859. ADVERTISEMENT From August, the school will open its doors to students on an entirely new site, with space, facilities and an ambience of affirmation as to its educational potential that I could not have comprehended as I handed in my last Leaving Cert paper (Maths) in the old school on June 28, 1969. Being aware that the Presentation Secondary School will also open its new school doors in August, I wondered if Kilkenny students had 'won the Lotto' in terms of future education. Not so, as a document on the current status of large-scale projects being delivered under the School Building Programme dated this year, clearly indicates. Kilkenny, while doing very well with its two new secondary schools has, in fact, a lesser number of large-scale school projects (which number over 300) than many other counties. The shortage of housing is constantly and justifiably in the headlines, but, if only occasionally, the planning, enterprise and dedication to the long-term future of the school needs of families is surely deserving of headlines and infinitely more deserving than all the headlines garnered in the furore pertaining to school phone pouches. Michael Gannon, Kilkenny TDs answer to voters, they must respect our objection to joining military alliance Many years ago now, my primary-school teacher told us that the Irish word for messenger was 'teachtaire', and that the role of a deputy, or Teachta Dála (TD) was to represent the views of the people who elected them to govern. As such, the first duty of a TD is not to their party but to promote the best interests of the people in their constituency who elected them. In that regard, successive opinion polls have shown that the majority of the Irish people do not want Ireland to be involved in a military alliance, but instead to uphold our constitutional obligation (Article 29.2) to be peacemakers. While the Taoiseach has repeatedly said that we will not be joining Nato, it is abundantly clear that the EU and Nato are far too tightly linked. The European Union is described by Nato as 'an essential partner' and EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen asserted that 'the EU-Nato partnership is a cornerstone of our security'. It is therefore incumbent on all TDs not to support the bill, currently before the Dáil, to remove the Triple Lock. To replace the UN as one of the prerequisites for Irish soldiers to become involved in foreign military missions by the EU is to undermine the UN. In contrast, Ireland must work to strengthen and reform the UN, and strive to uphold the sterling work of all those, including Frank Aiken, who have worked for active neutrality and to bring peace to our troubled world. Elizabeth Cullen, Kildare Thanks, Joe, for 27 years of extraordinary broadcasts, enjoy your retirement days On Friday, RTÉ's Liveline was opened one last time by Joe Duffy. What a show and what a consequential broadcaster Joe Duffy has been over the last 27 years. He was always interested in people and he undoubtedly brought his concerns to the airways. I believe there are many sides to Duffy. He was a campaigner and a social justice advocate, he was a man who loved art, literature, comedy and the pantomime. Who will ever forget his Liveline 'Funny Fridays'? The range of skills Duffy exhibited was extraordinary and I would certainly put his wide and varied expertise under the rubric of being the quintessential Renaissance man. Let's not forget that he was an author of many books, too. I want to wish this great man who did so much for people a happy retirement. Thanks, Joe, for everything. The world is definitely a better place with your kind around. John O'Brien, Clonmel, Co Tipperary Weddings are one thing, but even an Irish funeral is better than the Bezos bash Kathy Donaghy may prefer weddings in Ireland to those in Venice ('Ennis v Venice: Why Irish weddings will always beat Bezos-style blowout,' Irish Independent, June 28), but my brother takes a more radical line: he prefers funerals. No dancing, no presents, and at an Irish funeral at least, you can drink just as much. Compared to the Bezos wedding's total obscene excess – a spectacle somewhere between Eurovision and a coronation –his logic is hard to fault.