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Irish Independent
4 days ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Letters: Young people could well afford to repay a mortgage – if they could just get their hands on one
House prices are continuing to climb. Stock Image The real problem is that they cannot get a mortgage. This is because house prices are at a level that their savings, salary and funds offered by banks just don't get close to. Even with parents raiding savings and pension plans, the gap is insurmountable. Borrowers might well afford to repay instalments on a 30-year mortgage, but they just cannot get one. The solution is simple. We need a very clear agreement between banks and clients. And I'm not ruling out government-sponsored lending. It would state: We will give you the funds you need, provided you have shown history of savings. But – and it is a big proviso – should you renege on your mortgage payments after an agreed timescale, you must hand back the keys. There can be no ifs, ands or buts. This is an adults' agreement. I believe that thousands of people in Ireland today would happily take this offer were it available. So many people are trapped paying prohibitive rent that not only cripples their finances, but cripples their chances of getting a mortgage. Eamon Kearney, Baldoyle, Dublin I'm greatly reassured to learn that red wine, dark chocolate, tea and apples now count towards our five-a-day ('Your 'five-a-day' can now include chocolate and red wine,' Irish Independent , June 3). At this rate, all I need is a Tayto crisp sandwich and we'll have cracked public health in Northern Ireland. As someone from Armagh, I've long maintained that an apple a day – preferably from a tree your grandad planted – is as medicinal as anything in the pharmacy. Now, thanks to Queen's University Belfast, it seems flavonoids are the future. Tea and red wine included? That's breakfast and supper sorted. Kale, of course, remains under review. Enda Cullen, Tullysaran Road, Armagh There are a lot of issues with generative AI and large language models in education. They can be used by students and teachers to create essays and lesson plans. However, AI is entirely dependent on what you ask it to do. Even the slightest error in a request can lead to wildly varying results that may not reflect the author's intentions. Users must be very precise when asking AI to generate text. In the past, there was no such thing as a 'stupid question', but there is when using AI. Students and teachers need to be trained in prompt engineering. This is learning how to ask AI to generate something by giving it appropriate and well thought-out prompts. AI has become a new cornerstone in education; everyone can learn to be thoughtful and reflective when using it. In the future, students shouldn't be assessed on their AI-generated essays, but, rather on the quality of the 'prompts' they use to generate it. Dr John Jennings, Knocknacarra, Galway The Garda Representative Association (GRA) does a lot of moaning nowadays about how members are treated by the Government and the people. Does this go on across Europe? You'd think that those sworn to uphold the law would follow that promise through and not bark at every new regulation brought in by a democratically elected government. Liam Doran, Clondalkin, Dublin At the moment, Israel has been green-lighted and armed by Donald Trump to start the bombardment of Iran. The reason is to stop Iran developing nuclear weapons, because the country is seen to be unstable and a threat. But I would argue Israel might be viewed as equally unstable under the current leadership. Ray Dunne, Enfield, Meath The horrific war in Gaza, which started with Hamas' shocking attack on Israel's civilians in October 2023, has appalled most decent people, and yet the bombings and killing of Palestinians continues. Despite frequent words of condemnation, most world leaders have done nothing to stop it. Worse still, many European countries, as well as the US, continue to stand by Israel economically and militarily. The EU was quick to call out the Russian invasion of Ukraine, so why is the EU not stopping Israel's genocide in Gaza? Is the EU not hypocritical in its actions, and has it learnt nothing from past conflicts? The union was a European project to foster peace. So why is Israel, a perpetrator of destruction, mass migration and famine on the people of Gaza, still allowed to participate in EU-funded research projects? And why do EU countries continue to sell arms to Israel? Has the EU lost its moral compass? C Bailey, Dundrum, Dublin Enda Cullen is to be commended on his sharp observance of 'hitting the floor' over Saturday night's GAA commentary on Armagh v Galway ('GAA commentary needs to be more grounded – I was floored by what I heard,' Letters, June 16). There are so many sideshows on our current TV commentaries and analysis. 'Playing deep', 'middle three', 'middle eight', (is there a difference?). 'Push-up', 'giving' (no presents given in Gaelic football). 'On the back foot', 'running deep'. These are just some of the phrases that we, the viewers and readers, run with. Gone are the golden sports days of the great Michael O'Hehir's lone broadcasts. The whistle, the throw-in, the game is on, there's five minutes left in the game, there goes the final whistle. Game over. The last we had of that long-lost sporting activity was the legendary John D Hickey's famous reports in the Irish Independent on Monday mornings. No confetti or strings attached – like now. Tom Curley, Galway
Irish Independent
5 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Letters: As ‘No Kings' protest in US showed, the trick is to outclass the other side
This was no angry mob. It was peaceful, flag-waving and quietly patriotic. The slogans were about liberty, not vengeance; the symbols were constitutional, not cultural. In short, it looked like the America many of us grew up believing in. And it worked. Donald Trump, who never likes to lose face, has already begun retreating on immigration, tariffs and foreign policy. His showy military parade flopped. What this tells us – and what Irish eyes might take from it – is that dignity and discipline in protest still carry weight. The trick is not to outshout your opponents, but to outclass them. In Ireland we know a thing or two about resisting authority, but we also know that it's public opinion, not public fury, that ultimately shifts the ground. This is not just a moment of American resistance – it may be the quiet revival of the democratic centre. Enda Cullen, Tullysaran Road, Armagh Occupied Territories Bill must happen now if we really want to help Gaza The outbreak of hostilities between Israel and Iran must not distract from Ireland's efforts to help the people of Gaza. While we look on aghast, world leaders are constrained by commercial interests or strategic alliances. Over centuries, Ireland has demonstrated an ability to overcome such constraints. During a visit to Ireland in 2022, Hagai El-Ad, the former head of B'Tselem, Israel's great human rights organisation, said this country has a major influence on international humanitarian affairs, disproportionate to its size. Since then, Ireland has failed his region. The Occupied Territories Bill 2018 (OTB) refines public empathy into practical impact. Its peaceful innovation should have long been shared with the world. However, in 2020 it was blocked by the Government. Unjustified delay has followed, despite the bill having gained large majority support in the Seanad, Dáil and among the electorate. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more On May 27, the Tánaiste's comments in the Dáil on reintroducing the bill hinted at its fundamental dilution. At Gaza's 11th hour, Ireland cannot support such futility or further unnecessary delay. Rumoured external pressures on public representatives might best be shared with the electorate. Threats of legal challenges to this patently peaceful bill can be confidently faced later, if they arise. Similarly, parliamentary voting on the bill should surely be votes of conscience, away from the party whip system? Ireland's obligation to serve the innocents of Palestine is also at the 11th hour. Philip Powell, Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin Garda who came out as gay is a real inspiration to all who celebrate Pride How refreshing it is to hear a gay man say 'Our sexuality, whatever it is, is a proud part of us all, but it doesn't, nor should it, define us' and 'Just be yourself and be proud of your sexuality. Don't shy away from it' ('Top garda who was married with children before coming out as gay says 'Be yourself and be proud of your sexuality'', June 16). Compare this with the recent diatribe in the Sunday Independent from author John Boyne, who has become disdainful as he gets older. Fair play to GRA president Mark O'Meara, whose words of wisdom are an inspiration to all who celebrate Pride month. Tom McElligott, Listowel, Co Kerry Despite the myth, Gaelic football was popular in Dublin's inner-city schools In his review of RTÉ's Hell For Leather: The Story of Gaelic Football (June 9), Pat Stacey trots out the old story that no one in the Dublin 2 and 8 areas was interested in the sport when he was growing up in the Liberties in the 1970s. I beg to differ. Within distance of where Mr Stacey lived were Francis Street and Synge Street Christian Brothers schools. Football and hurling were played in both schools. There had always been some interest in the Dublin senior football team, even through some unforgettable years. When Kevin Heffernan and the Dubs reached the promised land in 1974, the spark was rekindled, and it still burns brightly to this day. Perhaps Mr Stacey was too busy watching TV shows or movies to have noticed this. Ray Healy, Dublin 11 Alone does tremendous work in helping elderly people have a dignified life I would like to commend and applaud the sterling service of Alone, the national organisation that provides services to older people who need support at home. The organisation also focuses on those who have difficulties by supporting them and linking them in with local services, thereby providing them with the support they need to live at home for as long as possible. A recent report by the charity revealed how important community support is for older people and showed a clear reduction in healthcare use and improved quality of life. The research found that community support enables older people to live with dignity at home. This itself highlights how the services of Alone are transforming the experience of ageing in Ireland. This support can encompass a wide range of services, including help with daily tasks, access to health care and opportunities for social engagement. Thank you to Alone for all the support it provides to the elderly of this country. John O'Brien, Clonmel, Co Tipperary EU needs to ask the big questions of itself over financial help for Ukraine With the US cancelling military aid to Ukraine, the question now is: Can the EU step up to the plate and fill the void? In recent months, Europe delivered the fifth tranche of its macro financial assistance loan to Ukraine, which is worth a total of €18bn. But this is a drop in the ocean compared with Russia's $160bn (€138bn) spend on defence this year alone. The irony is that the EU is dependent on Russian energy sources and provides Putin with €20bn a year to support Moscow's war machine. Europe makes a lot of noise and promises much, but long-term delivery is another matter.
Irish Times
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
No friend of man's best friend
Sir, - Hachiko, the famously faithful Japanese dog, has his statue in Shibuya Station, his story in schoolbooks, and, I believe, a film to his name ( An Irishman's Diary, May 21st ). Fido, his Italian counterpart, got tax exemption and national honour. Meanwhile, in Ireland, we never even named the sheepdog who was central to Dinny and Miley in Glenroe every Sunday night for years. It says something about national priorities - or perhaps our deeply ingrained modesty. Where other nations bronze their beasts, we barely remember ours. But that unnamed dog still rounded up more viewers than most RTÉ dramas today. Faithful, underpaid, and uncredited: truly the Irish way. – Yours, etc, READ MORE ENDA CULLEN, Armagh
