It’s time to mend fences with UK over Brexit, Leo
BREXIT means Brexit – get used to it, Mr Varadkar and Mr Coveney.
Your pleadings for solidarity from the EU fell on deaf ears the first day you mentioned this. Certainly, the Border issue held stuff up for a bit, but it was never going to change anything fundamentally.
How can Ireland be so naive as to believe the EU would ‘save’ us from the decision of the British electorate when it’s none of our business to begin with.
Adapt... just adapt – and seek to mend the fences you shattered with our best friend in the world, the UK.
Listen up, you silly Irish politicians of every hue: even those parties who campaigned against joining the Common Market all those years ago. Now is your big chance. This means you especially, Mary Lou McDonald.
ROBERT SULLIVAN, Co. Cork. THE UK’s Leave campaigners are being criticised for not being prepared for Brexit. But is this our fault?
When we in Britain were offered a referendum, endorsed by the Commons and the Lords, the civil service should have been planning for either outcome.
Was the fact they did not do this due to incompetence or ignorant complacency?
If anyone from the Whitehall bubble had visited the north of England, they would have known that Leave was a likely outcome. I have only met two people who voted Remain. The country has again been let down by the ruling classes who take us for granted. COLIN WARBURTON, Yorkshire.
Out with the touts!
FOR years, ticket touts have squeezed the last penny out of genuine fans who wanted to go to concerts or games.
The move to online ticket sales has raised touting to a higher level and must be stamped out once and for all.
Other countries have legal prohibitions that work quite well. The Cabinet signed off on measures to tackle the ticket touts and not before its time. Good riddance to these parasites who charge three times the value of tickets.
NOEL HARRINGTON, Co. Cork.
Paisley’s fall from grace
I BELIEVE it was Winston Churchhill who said the British political system was the worst in the world, but then added that he ‘knew no better’.
Or, in layman’s terms, he indicated that all political parties are corrupt one way or the other.
As it was the British government who found Ian Paisley guilty of serious misconduct capable of bringing parliament into disrepute, the electorate of Northern Ireland must seriously now consider who they will give their vote to.
For a start, the DUP cannot afford to not only condemn Ian Paisley’s inappropriate behaviour, they must consider expelling Mr Paisley, if they want to reinstate their creditability as a trustworthy political party.
The people who had put their trust in Ian Paisley must now reject any advances he may indicate, in that he wishes to be a candidate in any subsequent election, whether it be as an independent candidate or a member of any other political party.
For these same people, to consider giving their vote to Ian Paisley, would, in simple terminology, be approving political wrongdoing thereby opening the flood gates for others to follow suit. HARRY STEPHENSON,
by email.
Step aside, Michael D
I WOULD like to say to Michael D Higgins, isn’t it about time you sailed off into the sunset, after all you’ll be into your 80s when you retire from a second term?
Most people have to retire at 65 or 66 whether they like it or not, and you’re long past that, why push your luck? BRENDAN O’BRIEN,
Dublin 24.
Ageism or sexism?
THE actress Brigitte Nielsen has defended giving birth to a daughter at the age of 54, saying that while she understands people are ‘sceptical’, ‘it is my life’.
She is absolutely correct. It IS her life and she is entitled to give birth in her 50s if she wants to.
Many men father children in their 60s and 70s. The actor Gabriel Byrne recently became a dad at the age of 67.
So why shouldn’t a 54-year-old woman be criticised for this?
She is fit and wealthy. It’s not her child has been born into a life of penury with elderly parents.
For the life of me, I can’t figure out if some of her critics are sexist – or ageist.
MARIE CARROLL, Co. Dublin
A Ray of sunshine
IF the Catholic Church is trying to get people back to Mass, etc, they need look no further than the lovely Fr Ray Kelly from The X Factor.
He would make anyone want to go to Mass. To get Nathan Carter to sing the song Fr Ray made his own is, to me, downright disgraceful.
Shame on whoever made that decision. But they can still make amends and invite Fr Ray to do a duet with him. MARGARET GLEESON,
by email