How can we trust a system that has no real teeth, and how do we protect our most vulnerable?
It seems the bottom line for these private companies is to make as much money as they can while cutting costs through temporary contracts, high staff turnover, rationing of food and hygiene products, while safeguarding and proper supervision are nothing more than an inconvenience.
Christy Galligan, Letterkenny, Co Donegal
No mixed Signals this time as America keeps plans for Iran strikes under wraps
It was noticeable that leading figures in the US administration were not discussing the attack on Iran via the Signal app. Lessons learnt, I suppose.
Paul Doran, Clondalkin, Dublin
Trump must realise he has been played by Putin and get peace deal on the table
I wonder what Donald Trump’s commitment is to Ukraine right now.
It appears he is beginning to recognise he has been played by Vladimir Putin. I would hope this will mean he will increase support for Ukraine.
Strong international pressure must be put on Putin to come to the table to get a real peace deal and to stop militarising.
That means the West actually supporting Ukraine with weapons or whatever they need right now.
John O’Brien, Clonmel, Co Tipperary
US president provided the incentive for firms to relocate to Ireland
Former US treasury official Brad Setser, writing in The New York Times this week, claims it is a 2017 spending package put forward by Donald Trump that has actually rewarded US pharmaceutical giants for manufacturing their most profitable drugs in Ireland.
He says: “Republicans tend to blame Ireland’s lower corporate tax rate for the proliferation of corporate tax avoidance, but the real incentive comes from this obscure corner of our tax code.
“The tax break was created by Rep-ublicans who were searching for a compromise that would stop companies from moving their headquarters overseas.
“But it didn’t take long for pharmaceutical companies to realise they could cut their total tax bill in half by transferring their intellectual property (like, say, a patent for a new drug) to a subsidiary overseas.
“To satisfy a different and equally obscure provision, they needed to move their manufacturing as well.”
Meanwhile, the geniuses in the Dáil are pulling their hair out – those who have any, that is – over their fears of losing US companies from Ireland.
Declan Foley, Melbourne, Australia
Ireland, along with EU, is complicit in Israel’s war crimes on people in Gaza
First we heard that 46 more people in Gaza had been shot by the Israeli army as they queued for food aid. Then we heard that children in Gaza are dying of thirst.
Last week, a leaked EU “review” corroborated UN allegations that Israel was guilty of “indiscriminate attacks … starvation … torture … and apartheid” against Palestinians.
But this was merely a “note” to “contribute to the ongoing review” of EU-Israel relations. It didn’t entail “any value judgment” by EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas or commiss-ion president Ursula von der Leyen.
On Monday, after that EU foreign ministers review, the only thing Ms Kallas could say was: “If the situation does not improve, then we can discuss further measures and come back in July.”
The Irish Government, for all its earnest expressions of concern, has failed to take any effective action.
The EU, our Government and, therefore, the Irish people are, in effect, complicit in Israeli war crimes against the people of Palestine.
One might be concerned, not only for Palestine, but for the future of any legally or ethically based notion of universal human rights or world order.
Art Ó Laoghaire, Bray, Co Wicklow
Climate targets will never be met unless more is done to encourage switch to EVs
The UK government has inexplicably cancelled plans for a £900m (€1.054m) expansion of its public car-charging network.
As an EV driver, I was appalled on a recent visit to England to discover how sparse the public charging network is – even worse than in Ireland, where a huge amount of work remains to be done to ensure a comprehensive network on roads away from our motorways.
If governments expect private motorists to switch to EVs to help meet climate targets, they must do more – and fast – to roll out public charging networks that banish the notion of range anxiety.
Seán Kirwan, Bray, Co Wicklow
That ‘Republic of Ireland’ moniker belongs only in one place – a football park
As is often the case, the “Republic of Ireland” moniker is used to describe the 26 counties.
It is the name of a football team, nothing more. The name of the country, as per the Constitution, is “Ireland”, or “Éire”, if you prefer. To call it anything else is to give up claim on the other six counties.
No government department or other country would ever use it in official communications. To do so would be wholly incorrect.
Gerry Cummins, Portlaoise
Scrapping Katie Hannon’s informative programme leaves huge void on RTÉ
It was with a real sense of loss that I learnt Upfront with Katie Hannon will not be returning to RTÉ TV in September. It was always interesting and informative and discussed the real issues in ordinary people’s lives.
Katie always had her finger on the pulse of the nation’s problems. She always treated the guests and panel members with great courtesy, sensitivity and understanding. She was calm under pressure and handled very delicate issues with great decorum and professionalism.
Although the end of this show is a huge loss to public debate, we all hope to see Katie back on our screens again in a new format.
Tom Towey, Cloonacoool, Co Sligo