Government scapegoated an easy target
OVERKILL! Overkill! A bitter Phil to swallow!
It was a frenzied, holier-thanthou scapegoating of what turned out to be an easy target by the political parties in Government (those in Opposition would hardly do anything else) to deflect blame and anger from themselves and their mounting calamities.
But Phil Hogan has pulled the rug out from under them.
Sure he made a mistake, but so do a lot of other public figures and in the heel of the hunt, just how big was it? Oh sure he was arrogant and combative, but what the hell good would a mouse be in his position as an EU Commissioner and especially in the high-ranking Trade portfolio, and at such a critical time in the Brexit negotiations. He’s probably glad to be rid of it.
Ursula von der Leyen won’t be best pleased with the Irish Government for pushing the issue so hard. But she and her co-commissioners will be so pleased with the precedent it might establish; we’ll be lucky to get tea-making duties for our replacement commissioner. Big Phil could probably do without the hassle on which more is likely to be heaped by the utter disaster Brexit is shaping up to be, especially for us
So it’s bye-bye from him, and let someone else do a better job.
PADRAIC NEARY, Tubbercurry, Co. Sligo.
Brexit’s a done deal
THERE was misplaced concern that Phil Hogan was vital for EU Brexit negotiations with UK.
Such poppycock is not even an issue for Britain because what the British were seeking has already been achieved: the escape from the clutches of Brussels and Berlin. Any trade or other issues the EU wishes to consider vital to its continuation is far down the list of UK priorities because the main issue of fishing rights in British waters has already been claimed back by Westminster.
A world power like England will have no problem dealing with world trade, and the EU doing business with Britain is much more important to that dictatorial bloc. If another Irish ‘genius’ is appointed in place of Philo to try to put manners on Boris Johnson and his government, it will make no difference at all. Brexit is a done deal and for the EU/Éire to believe it has clout over any non-member state is in the realm of cloud-cuckoo-land thinking. ROBERT SULLIVAN,
Bantry, Co. Cork.
What’s in a name?
MAN United captain Harry Maguire reportedly asked Greek police officers: ‘Do you know who l am?’ I worked with a cashier, who, when asked that question by customers, would say: ‘Yes, I do know who you are. But if you’ve forgotten, I could write it down for you.’ Priceless!
H. BLUNDEN, by email.
Senseless waste of life
AN AUSTRALIAN mass murderer, whose name should never be mentioned again, has been sentenced to life without hope of parole in New Zealand.
His guilt was never doubted as he had livestreamed his murder of 51 people and the attempted murder of another 40 people as he shot his way through two mosques in the city of Christchurch.
From this great tragedy came stories of heroics, as often does in times of need, but no matter what level of courage a person shows, there is no hope against an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle at pointblank range, although this action allowed others to escape to safety. The murderer arrived with six high-power guns, and surely no-one could argue that was needed to protect his family.
This time of sadness offered insights on the nature of humanity with the evil of one greatly overridden by the strength of faith of the families, many of whom showed not hatred but forgiveness. Anger would be the expected response but so many were tempered by their better nature.
What the murderer did not understand was that the differences between people is what makes the world a better place. It is often said that tragedies bring people together, but why is it at so great a cost? DENNIS FITZGERALD, Melbourne, Australia.